Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's lung cancer and diabetes mellitus type II are granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for carcinoma of the head and neck is remanded as there is a possible nexus with herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy. The issues are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the issues of increased rating for left-sided Bell's palsy and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's pes planus was granted a 50% rating prior to September 22, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and granted TDIU.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service connected due to onset during ACDUTRA. The Veteran's hypertension is denied as not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain relevant medical records from Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, as well as Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The issues of diabetes mellitus, type II and an eye/vision disability are also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, including diabetes and its complications. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence, specifically a need for a new examination to determine the current severity of service-connected eye disabilities and whether any additional eye disability is related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted.,The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, diagnosed as coronary artery disease, is presumed to be due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent (Agent Orange) and is granted.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to be due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent (Agent Orange) and is granted.,The Veteran's skin cancer is related to his military service and is granted.

The Board has found that the development conducted does not adequately comply with the September 2021 Board remand directives and thus, the case is being returned to the AOJ for further development regarding the Veteran's reported exposure to herbicides while stationed at Howard and Albrook Air Force Bases in Panama.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and bilateral eye condition due to a lack of records from RAF Upper Heyford, England for the period January 1, 1973, to December 31, 1973. The VA will seek these records and provide a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions provided are inadequate and remands the claims for new medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy disabilities had their clinical onset during service and are due to any incident of service, including running during basic training.

The Veteran's claim for PCAFC benefits is being remanded due to unclear reasons and bases in the denial, as well as a need to clarify eligibility based on new legal criteria set by the Federal Circuit.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions, including Parkinson's disease and major depressive disorder. The Board has remanded several issues for further review due to the complexity of his case.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of exposure to herbicide agents in Guam, or that these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly compensation have been referred to the RO for further action as they are no longer relevant due to his death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has not required regulation of activities, and thus does not warrant a higher initial rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that his condition was not related to military service or exposure to herbicide agents.