Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for pes planus, diabetes mellitus type II, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea due to new evidence received after the January 2020 SOC.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension are granted under the PACT Act. Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted. However, service connection for enlarged aorta remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for diabetes mellitus and its associated peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again, with a focus on verifying herbicide exposure and obtaining an expert medical opinion regarding the etiology of DM.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not compensable, as the average puretone threshold is below 40 decibels in both ears.,Service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity has been granted. The condition is secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II associated with exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, malignant melanoma, neuropathy of the left arm, right leg, and left leg, as well as hypertension are all denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for essential tremor is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion addressing its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is granted based on the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022. The Veteran also received Individual Unemployability benefits as of March 7, 2019.

The Veteran's total disability rating for coronary artery disease renders his TDIU claim moot, as the other service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU. The effective date of the 100% rating is March 14, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II, and right ear hearing loss secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II due to incomplete development. The Veteran is advised to attend the scheduled examinations or provide a valid explanation if unable to do so.

The Veteran's claims for service connection to diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted from August 10, 2022, pursuant to the PACT Act. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding prior periods of service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, stating he was satisfied with the decision and wished to discontinue further development actions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities in the aggregate rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of a SSOC. The Veteran's vision disability, including refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, astigmatism, and presbyopia are being reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various diabetes-related conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination for erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, and residuals, laceration scar of the right chest have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Board has determined that the June 30, 2017 rating decision denying service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to no current diagnosis, was based on an inaccurate factual premise. The Veteran's December 21, 2016 intent to file a claim for service connection is considered the earliest date of claim and thus service connection is granted effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity as an intermediate step. The VA needs to obtain a new opinion from a qualified sleep specialist addressing both proximate causation and aggravation by hypertension and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left and right lower extremities, has been rated at the moderate level since June 1, 2018, for both legs. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.