Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection of various conditions, including left ankle condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left arm condition, episodes of visual loss (floaters), arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, headaches, and nerve damage is granted. The AOJ should arrange for VA examinations to determine the nature and likely cause of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), was related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or cancer malignancy. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for tinnitus, right hearing loss, and diabetes need further development due to incomplete medical opinions and consideration of relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded several claims of service connection due to the need for additional records from the Dallas VAMC, which may be relevant to these cases.

The Veteran's service connection for DM-2 is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. Service connection for OSA is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II. The claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease is remanded, and the claim for a low back disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and glaucoma, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II due to outstanding service personnel records and the need for additional medical opinions. The PACT Act is relevant to the diabetes mellitus claim.

Service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is granted.,Service connection for right rib fracture as secondary to service-connected right foot neuroma and/or right foot peripheral neuropathy is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, thoracic spine disability, right lower extremity neuropathy, and migraine headaches due to incomplete development of records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the issues of glaucoma, right shoulder disability, sciatic neuropathy in the left lower extremity (LLE), and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of medical records. The Veteran's eye disabilities are presumed related to herbicide agent exposure in service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as the evidence did not show that his diabetes required more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the contribution of service-connected disabilities to the Veteran's functional impairment and for obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, squamous cell carcinoma, diabetes mellitus type 2, bladder cancer, sleep apnea, prostate cancer, and coronary artery disease, due to exposure to herbicides. The remand includes verifying Agent Orange exposure and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's initial rating for left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,For the initial rating period from July 30, 2016 to January 2022, the Veteran's left lower and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathies were each rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding her exposure to herbicide agents and other chemicals at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The AOJ is instructed to verify these exposures and then decide the claims based on the new information.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various Parkinson's disease residuals were denied. The highest possible rating of 30 percent was assigned for irritable bowel syndrome, and the Veteran is already receiving that maximum rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II due to open medical questions. The Veteran contends that his service-connected sleep apnea and depressive disorder caused him to develop obesity, which in turn caused hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II.