Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to incomplete development of his service personnel records and potential exposure to herbicide agents. The AOJ is required to obtain any outstanding service personnel records, confirm the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents, and provide a VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's currently diagnosed diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the AOJ failing to verify his exposure to herbicide agents at Camp Casey and Camp Red Cloud, which is a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The propriety of severance of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disability, obesity, and his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, should be remanded due to a failure to report to a scheduled VA examination. The Veteran was not properly notified of the upcoming appointment and may have missed it.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus are granted for the appeal period beginning on August 10, 2022 under the PACT Act. The back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, brain tumor, eye condition, erectile dysfunction, and diabetic sensory peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, finding that it is less likely than not related to service or secondary to service-connected GERD or IBS.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, right foot pain, and left foot pain disabilities. The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II were also denied.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted service connection, and the other claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted TDIU prior to August 30, 2023, due to his service-connected disabilities. On or after August 30, 2023, the combined evaluation of his service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The appeal for a higher rating of DMII is dismissed. The appeals for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are remanded. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded due to insufficient verification of herbicide exposure in Korea and CLCW exposure at Camp Lejeune. The AOJ must verify these exposures before service connection can be determined.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been withdrawn.,Claims to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus type II have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for high blood pressure and headaches have not been established based on the available evidence.,The Veteran's surgical scar, dorsal left second metatarsophalangeal joint s/p osteotomy left foot has a compensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his disabilities and active service, including conceded toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and asbestos during his service. The claims will be reconsidered with this additional information.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion regarding whether the appellant was permanently incapable of self-support prior to age 18 due to her combination of mental and physical disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment as of February 7, 2017. Prior to that date, the evidence did not demonstrate sufficient disability to meet TDIU criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for depression. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board denied service connection for DMII, CAD, lymphoma, diverticulosis, and a skin disorder due to lack of in-service exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) and failure to establish direct service connection. Service connection was also denied for ED and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to DMII.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure compliance with previous remand directives and to provide the content of substantive appeals to all contesting parties.