Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted service connection. The lung disability and obstructive sleep apnea are denied service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 50 percent for headaches has been granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for headaches is set at January 28, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for diabetic retinopathy prior to May 2, 2022 and from May 2, 2022 is denied. The current ratings of 10% prior to May 2, 2022 and 30% from May 2, 2022 are not adequate.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or jet fuels and the claim is decided on a direct basis.

The Board has denied service connection for a testicular condition and remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, depression (claimed as PTSD), fungus condition, athlete's foot, and sinus condition. The initial rating claim for left knee condition is also remanded.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus remains pending with the need to obtain medical records and provide an opinion on its etiology.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability. The Board found that the claimed disabilities (heart disease, diabetes, and esophageal cancer) were not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction. The decision is based on medical opinions that these conditions are not related to active duty.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents. The issue of residuals of strokes, related to the service-connected diabetes, remains pending and will be remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's diabetes, IHD, and hypertension are granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicides. PDR and peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes are remanded for additional development.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on specific requirements such as regulation of activities or hospitalizations.

The Veteran's disability rating for diabetes was reduced from 60 percent to 20 percent, and the Board has granted restoration of the 60 percent rating. The issue of a higher rating remains pending as well as the issue of TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective June 8, 2018.,For the period from January 29, 2017 to June 7, 2018, the Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes, intestinal condition, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and heart condition due to incomplete responses in previous opinions. The Veteran's death while his appeal was pending allowed substitution with his spouse as the appellant.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral eye disability and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient rationale in the VA opinions provided.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing VA and non-VA treatment records, specifically a May 2002 non-VA eye examination record and a July 2014 non-VA care appointment record. The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for updated VA medical records, new examinations, and additional development regarding his reported stressors. The PACT Act requires a VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and in-service toxic exposures.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his PTSD, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetes mellitus type II are all rated at the maximum allowed. The erectile dysfunction remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy has been denied for higher initial ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic nephropathy was rated at 60 percent from January 9, 2012 to November 3, 2020 and at 80 percent since November 4, 2020. The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were each rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected diabetic nephropathy was rated at 80 percent from January 9, 2012 to November 3, 2020 and at 100 percent since November 4, 2020. The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and remanded other claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing adequate opinions.