Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and neuropathy of the extremities, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from January 11, 2019 to September 18, 2019. Prior to this period, his diabetes alone did not prevent him from securing and following such employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and hypertension are granted. Service connection is also granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act for hypertension.,Service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it is not a disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale provided in previous VA opinions and because of a potential TERA exposure under the PACT Act. Additional development is needed, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for fatigue, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), erectile dysfunction, heart condition, type II diabetes mellitus, and depression have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a cervical spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip disability, and left hip disability are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents. The remand is required because there is insufficient information to verify that aircraft or aircraft parts handled by the Veteran were exposed to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include panic attacks and an anxiety disorder as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient verification of herbicide agent exposure at Camp St. Barbara.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction has been granted. Service connection is also granted for left eye diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy.,The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for residuals of colon cancer has been denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, due to new evidence suggesting it may be related to his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to TDIU prior to April 4, 2017 due to insufficient evidence indicating whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to September 29, 2016, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.,Initial ratings of 40 percent were granted for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, with an extraschedular rating for retinopathy.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as his disability did not require one or more daily injections of insulin and regulation of activities.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was also denied, as there is no evidence that he was unable to work due to his service-connected disabilities prior to August 31, 2022.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and decisions need to be reviewed again, as per previous remand directives. The Veteran's claims for various conditions are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, leading to the denial of a TDIU for accrued benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of one automobile or other conveyance and/or automobile adaptive equipment, and special monthly compensation (SMC) due to the need for regular aid and attendance. The reasons include not having substantial compliance with prior remand instructions regarding obtaining records from the Veteran's brother.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and clarification regarding the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly diabetes mellitus type II and its associated peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD, diabetes, heart impairment, and prostate cancer due to lack of available service treatment records. The Veteran's arguments indicate these conditions may be related to in-service exposure to various chemicals, but further development is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy with bladder dysfunction, and hypertension. The Veteran was granted a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during training at Fort Gordon in 1967.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, cerebrovascular disease, erectile dysfunction, and ulcerative colitis as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after active service. The Veteran's reported exposures to herbicides were not verified.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and a bilateral eye disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.