Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as mild-to-moderate tricompartmental degenerative changes in the left knee, is granted. The Board also remanded for VA TERA examinations to determine if her respiratory issues and other disabilities are related to her exposure to asbestos and PFOA/PFOS during service.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus.,Service connection has also been granted for hypertension, which is found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus and obesity as an intermediate step.,Additionally, the Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (DMII), determined to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus with obesity as an intermediate factor.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as there is no competent evidence of a current disability or any such condition during his active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to scheduling issues with VA examinations. The Board will attempt to schedule the necessary examinations at the closest VA Medical Center to the Veteran's home.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will need an addendum opinion from an examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed diabetes mellitus type II, including as secondary to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes was granted with an effective date of April 20, 2022. The decision is based on the Veteran's actions in filing a VA Form 21-526EZ in April 2022, which was considered as an intent to file.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (sciatic and femoral nerves) was granted effective August 10, 2022, based on presumed herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act. However, the evidence does not support this presumption.,The Veteran's service records do not indicate any in-service diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or peripheral neuropathy. The most probative evidence shows that these conditions were first diagnosed years after his separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as diabetes mellitus (DM), are denied. The Board is remanding the claims of service connection for DM, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to duty or visitation in Vietnam.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for DM is also remanded because there is no medical opinion addressing whether his DM is related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hepatitis C (claimed as chronic chemical hepatitis) due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service event or exposure related to these conditions.

The Board has found that the claims for service connection for Congestive Heart Failure, Type II Diabetes, Coronary Artery Disease, and Dilated Cardiomyopathy must be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions. The VA is instructed to clarify the type of toxic exposure conceded in the TERA memo and obtain an adequate opinion addressing the Veteran's exposure to commercial herbicides and insecticides at Fort Polk.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 10, 2022 for the increased rating of 100 percent for type 2 diabetes. The Veteran's increase in diabetic symptoms occurred on or after this date.

The Veteran's initial 20% rating for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII) is being remanded due to an inadequate VA examination. The Board requests a new examination to assess the severity of his DMII and determine if he has neuropathy related to it.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is denied. The earliest date of receipt for the Veteran's claim was June 7, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes, which is secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea with constructive bronchitis, has been remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board requests that the Veteran provide information about private treatment records related to his diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin disorder, and migraines. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM), peripheral neuropathy of right lower extremity (RLE), and peripheral neuropathy of left lower extremity (LLE) are REMANDED.

The Board denied service connection for lower back degenerative arthritis, diabetes mellitus type II, and left knee surgical scar.,There is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate compensable ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus required only restricted diet and one or more daily injection of insulin, but not a higher rating. His erectile dysfunction was rated as noncompensable due to lack of physical deformity. His hypertension did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating under DC 7101. His onychomycosis was rated as noncompensable based on its classification as dermatitis.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer, coronary artery disease (claimed as ischemic heart disease), and diabetes mellitus type II due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.