Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further development and review, including those related to AL amyloidosis, angioedema, respiratory disorders, type II diabetes mellitus, and neurological disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal and psychiatric disabilities by way of obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes is proximately due or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy, and whether obesity served as an 'intermediate step' between the disabilities and the diabetes.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for ischemic heart disease due to exposure to herbicide agents or toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Veteran's hypertension, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus have been granted service connection. However, the initial compensable rating for hypertension has been denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a sinus disorder is denied due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria for these conditions during or approximate to the appeal period.,The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun during service and has been continuous since then, granting service connection. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is also granted.,Service connection for bilateral eye disorder, sleep disorder (including insomnia and sleep apnea), headache disorder, thyroid disorder, and respiratory disorder remains pending as remanded by the Board.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while handling aircraft parts at Williams Air Force Base.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus, Type II. The cases are now remanded to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating of 100 percent for diabetic nephropathy is granted. The case is remanded to determine an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for readjudication due to additional evidence being added to the claims file since the January 2020 Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete opinions and the need for a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) examination for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated higher than noncompensable, as his blood pressure readings have consistently been below the threshold for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating. His disability has not resulted in forward flexion limited to 60 degrees or less or a combined range of motion (ROM) limited to 120 degrees or less, even considering functional loss.,Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea as there is no causal relationship between these conditions and service.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as evidenced by his retirement due to age rather than disability.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his right lower extremity radiculopathy remains denied.,The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding potential herbicide exposure on C-123 aircraft.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for DMII, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The claims are remanded for further development regarding rating decisions and service connection determinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and evaluation of his claims, including verification of toxic exposure and provision of medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion and a need for further examination. The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder and obstructive sleep apnea may have contributed to their obesity, which in turn could have caused or aggravated diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus are granted as due to herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection for thrombocytopenia is denied, while depression secondary to ischemic heart disease is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for head injury, head scar, low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial in June 2013. The claims are being reopened but not decided on their merits.

The Veteran's appeal for lymphoma has been withdrawn. The claims of diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been granted based on presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).,Service connection for impotence is pending as it may be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.