Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma due to Agent Orange exposure. The case requires additional development including obtaining an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) and VA treatment records from VistA Imaging.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports readjudicating the claims for service connection of diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. The Veteran's assertions include a claim related to an in-service malaria illness, which may be related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II and its associated erectile dysfunction, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the creative organ are granted with effective dates of February 7, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 11, 2023. The Board granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of proper consideration of his exposure to radiation during service. The AOJ is instructed to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a hearing and forward all relevant documents, including a July 2013 memo about ionizing radiation exposure at Fort Bliss, to the VA Under Secretary for Health for a dose estimate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and obstructive sleep apnea due to potential errors in the duty to assist. The AOJ must obtain missing service records, determine if the Veteran was involved in a TERA during his active service, and provide medical opinions regarding the nature of the disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 31, 2022 for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II. The decision is based on the receipt of a claim after the last final denial in September 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and associated polyneuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes and ischemic heart disease due to a lack of consideration of certain evidence, including ship logs from the USS Canisteo. A VA opinion is needed regarding the combined effect of toxic exposure during service on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and clarifying the Veteran's work history.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted effective July 10, 2007. The right and left shoulder adhesive capsulitis cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has vacated the May 16, 2022 decision and remanded the service connection issues for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, heart disability, and respiratory disability. The claims are now being addressed based on new evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC were denied. The earliest possible effective dates are January 27, 2017.

The Board is remanding all claims on appeal due to the need for VA examinations and opinions regarding frostbite residuals of various body parts.,The Board is also remanding the diabetes mellitus, hemorrhoids, and body rashes claims due to the need for verification of herbicide exposure during service in Korea.,PTSD, anxiety, nightmares, and hallucinations claims are being remanded without further action as there are no STRs available.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claims for hepatocellular carcinoma, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, obstructive sleep apnea, iron deficiency anemia, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to a failure to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while stationed in Korea.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to PTSD and sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to correct this error.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumptively service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the previous examination report, specifically regarding the secondary service connection for OSA. The Veteran's obesity is considered an intermediary factor between his service-connected disabilities and OSA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's AIP and Type I Diabetes Mellitus were not caused or aggravated by VA care, specifically his Whipple procedure in August 2005. The decision is denied.