Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA medical records.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022.,Right ear hearing loss and diabetes mellitus, type II are denied. The claim for bladder cancer was dismissed due to the PACT Act grant.,Left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or other hazardous chemicals during his service in the Panama Canal Zone, and for additional development of VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities from March 19, 2020. The evidence shows that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation because of his headaches, diabetes, and other disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, pancreatic cancer to include residual jaundice, and coronary artery disease due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The appeal is pending further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to a lack of VA and private treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), and diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 20 percent and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 40 percent from October 20, 2015 to December 29, 2020, and higher than 40 percent thereafter. A compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death, finding that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The Board noted that liver failure was caused by reactivation of hepatitis B due to medications used for non-service-connected rheumatic arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities due to exposure during ACDUTRA at Fort McClellan. The appellant needs a VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to this period of service.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable evaluation for hypertension, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and diabetes, as well as his claim for TDIU. The decision found that there was no current left ankle disability or evidence of service in the Panama Canal Zone. The Veteran's diabetes is not service-connected due to lack of exposure to herbicides. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance has been granted, effective from his death in December 2021.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, including service connection for diabetic cataracts, diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and TDIU. The decision is based on the need for further development regarding medical records, exposure history, and opinions about the cause and aggravation of diabetes.

The Veteran's pituitary adenoma and secondary hypothyroidism are related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The claims for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM) and neuropathy of the right and left hands due to herbicide exposure are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to August 4, 2014 for service connection of diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction have been dismissed.,An effective date prior to August 4, 2014 for the award of a 20 percent rating for prostatitis is denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for prostatitis has not been granted.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a TDIU have also been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, hypertension, and low testosterone due to exposure to toxins at Fort McClellan between July 1959 and December 1970.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate development in obtaining private treatment records from Dr. J.E.L., Dr. E, and other providers.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, finding the exposure to herbicides in Vietnam is presumed. The decision also notes that the Appellant's discharge was due to willful and persistent misconduct but does not affect his eligibility for healthcare.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a kidney condition due to further efforts being warranted to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides used in Agent Orange during his active service.