Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, but the Board is remanding for a VA oncologist to provide an opinion on whether his mesothelioma could be causally related to his service or if it contributed substantially and materially to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to provide an adequate VA examination or obtain a medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's PVD.

The Board has determined that there is sufficient new and relevant evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for cause of death, but further medical opinion is needed to determine if diabetes or exposure to hazardous chemicals at Fort Riley was a principal or contributory cause of death.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and the Board is remanding the case for further development to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA oncologist regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not rated higher than noncompensable, his right knee disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 16, 2019 or 30 percent from September 1, 2020, and he failed to establish service connection for chronic bronchitis (COPD), fungal infection, left knee disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left elbow disorder, or diabetes.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death, as veterans' claims do not survive their deaths.

The Board denied earlier effective dates prior to June 26, 2016, for the awards of service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since September 19, 2005.,Diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 40 percent from October 26, 2021.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and diabetes mellitus, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer is granted. Service connection for heart condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

New evidence has been submitted that may support the Veteran's claims for service connection. The AOJ will review these new claims and determine if they meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran has diabetic retinopathy or other eye diagnoses secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the case due to a finding of service in Vietnam, which could affect the presumption for herbicide exposure. The Veteran's service record does not confirm this claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his authorized representative, and the Board is dismissing the case as a result.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, but the Board is remanding for a VA oncologist to provide an opinion on whether his mesothelioma could be causally related to his service or if it contributed substantially and materially to his death.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus, type 2 with pseudophakia associated with herbicide exposure is denied.,Effective from April 13, 2012, the Veteran has been granted service connection for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.,Effective from April 13, 2012, the Veteran has also been granted service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.,Effective from April 13, 2012, the Veteran has also been granted service connection for right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.,Effective from April 13, 2012, the Veteran has also been granted service connection for right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has found that the AOJ did not properly verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents in Okinawa, Japan. The case is being remanded for further verification of this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to self-sustain in the community due to his dementia and other medical conditions, granting a Level 2 stipend in the PCAFC program.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also granted for hypothyroidism, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus type II due to in-service herbicide exposure. Ischemic heart disease remains denied.