Diabetes decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for microvascular coronary disease and diabetes mellitus, type II as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C. The decision is based on evidence that these conditions are related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, amputation of the left leg, neuropathy of both hands and right leg, hypertension, vision problems, and tremors (claimed as seizures) secondary to diabetes mellitus type II due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while serving at U.S. military bases in Okinawa, Japan is also being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and nephropathy are granted due to herbicide agent exposure in Guam. The PACT Act grants presumptive service connection for these conditions.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM), a heart disorder (IHD, CHF, and CAD), right leg ulcers, left leg ulcers, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity.,Service connection is denied for a left ankle disorder, a right ankle disorder, and a left hand disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for sinusitis is denied. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with sinusitis during the pendency of the claim or approximate thereto and he is in receipt of service connection for rhinitis.,The claims for renal cell carcinoma of the bilateral kidneys and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, diabetes mellitus, left eye macular degeneration, right eye macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy are granted due to the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of each condition and was exposed to herbicides during his service on Guam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and prostate cancer residuals are granted as presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is granted as secondary to now-service connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral cataracts and an increased rating for PTSD due to new evidence received after the most recent Supplemental Statements of the Case.

The Veteran's hypertension, ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and Parkinson's disease are all granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,Special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral cataracts were aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, other than PTSD, claimed as acute reactive depression; diabetes mellitus; dermatitis; and toenail onychomycosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's myasthenia gravis, specifically whether it is related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 50 percent disabling, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, which meets the criteria for one or more daily injections of insulin and restricted diet.,Right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, meeting the criteria for moderate incomplete paralysis of a major extremity.,Left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, meeting the criteria for moderate incomplete paralysis of a minor extremity.,Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, meeting the criteria for moderate incomplete paralysis.,Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, meeting the criteria for moderate incomplete paralysis.,Erectile dysfunction is not compensably disabling.,Hypothyroidism is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Sebaceous cyst of the thoracic area is not compensably disabling.,Hiatal hernia (previously rated as a chronic digestive condition) is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The TDIU claim is also referred back for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his diabetes, which in turn contributed to his death. The VA must obtain additional medical records and provide a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's type II diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes as there was no evidence of its incurrence during active duty or ACDUTRA, and the claimant did not meet the criteria to be considered a Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicide agents are granted. The hearing loss claim is remanded, and the TDIU claim is also in need of further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted effective November 30, 2016. The claim for TDIU is also granted as of July 25, 2017.