Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been denied as new and relevant evidence has not been received. Service connection for basal cell carcinoma of the nose and lip is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on September 24, 2020, and October 8, 2020, by Flat River Family Dentistry due to lack of prior authorization from VA and the absence of a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and lumbar degenerative disc with spondylosis require additional development due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for PTSD, CAD, diabetes, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's presence in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos is unclear, and VA failed to conduct necessary research into his claimed exposure.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals related to the claims of service connection for diabetes, heart condition, high blood pressure (hypertension), left knee condition, and right knee condition. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, heart disability, residuals of head and face injury, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), chronic stomach disability, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer, and sleep disorder.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents while serving aboard a U.S. Navy ship in Vietnam.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type I.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding service connection for cause of death. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for impaired diastolic dysfunction with diastolic hypertension is granted. The claims for skin disability, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), right-sided carpal tunnel syndrome, and left-sided carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes was denied. The effective date for the award of service connection for hypertension on a presumptive basis due to Gulf War exposure is set at August 10, 2022. A disability rating of 10 percent for hypertension is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to herbicide agents, as he was previously denied in a May 2016 rating decision. The appeals are now pending and require further development including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart condition, and various types of neuropathy due to a lack of evidence supporting exposure to herbicide agents or toxic chemicals during the Veteran's military service.

The appeals for increased disability rating and service connection have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease and multiple neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 27, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal as moot because an earlier effective date of November 8, 2005, for the award of service connection for diabetic nephropathy associated with DM was granted in a prior rating decision.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to make a fully reasoned determination on the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to his service-connected congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, sinusitis, and rhinitis. The case is being remanded to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's OSA, including aggravation by a service-connected disability and obesity as an 'intermediate step.'