Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed due to his in-service exposure to tactical herbicides, specifically Agent Orange, and granted service connection under the PACT Act. The effective date of this decision is August 10, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence of his employment history and income levels, despite meeting the criteria for TDIU. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the threshold minimum requirements for TDIU as he was unable to provide specific information about his educational and occupational background.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports, incomplete medical records, and procedural issues.,VA will attempt to obtain additional medical records from private providers and issue a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's representative did not receive a timely copy of the March 2020 Statement of the Case (SOC) concerning the earlier effective date claims for various conditions. The appeals are being remanded to issue a SOC on these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining missing audiograms and considering private treatment records regarding the Veteran's heart disability. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's left foot degenerative arthritis is granted service connection. The issues of service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and chronic bronchitis are remanded due to inadequate VA nexus opinions.

The Veteran's claim for initial ratings of 40 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right and left lower extremities, sciatic nerve was granted. SMC for loss of use of the lower extremities is denied.

The Board has vacated its previous remand decisions and is now remanding the claims for increased evaluations of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, onychomycosis, and erectile dysfunction. The AOJ must ensure that separate compensable ratings are assigned if appropriate.

The Board dismissed the appeals for ratings in excess of 10 percent, 20 percent, and 40 percent for hypertension, adult-onset diabetes with erectile dysfunction and mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, and voiding dysfunction respectively due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and complications of diabetes mellitus such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. He is also entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to his additional service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional evidence, including Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted beginning April 3, 2008. The Board also remanded the case for extraschedular consideration of TDIU after April 3, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA examinations and lack of proper exposure documentation. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various psychiatric, diabetes, sleep, and muscle spasm disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been granted for a respiratory disability.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and its secondary effects on the Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremities. The evidence did not show a link to service.,The Board also denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper and lower extremities, as well as left upper and lower extremities, all secondary to diabetes mellitus. Again, there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee disabilities and diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his physical and mental incapacity.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities and median nerve in both upper extremities have been granted at a 40 percent rating, effective from June 13, 2017.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and hypertension are all granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service on the Korat RTAFB. The heart disability claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for diabetes, coronary artery disease, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded due to a failure to obtain VA examinations addressing the Veteran's exposure to industrial solvents and chemicals during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is not aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with depression and anxiety and secondary alcohol use disorder, but has found a duty to assist error in obtaining an opinion on whether it was aggravated. The case is being remanded for this purpose.