Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of one automobile or other conveyance and/or automobile adaptive equipment, and special monthly compensation (SMC) due to the need for regular aid and attendance are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for CAD, diabetes mellitus type II, and Parkinson's disease are granted as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand.

The Board has found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while serving in Thailand and stationed at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base from August 1969 to August 1970. The claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded due to a procedural error.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes is remanded due to insufficient information on whether he was within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam during his active-duty service. The AOJ must determine this and readjudicate the issue.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him bedridden or require regular aid and assistance at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's cerebrovascular accident with right side hemiplegia is found to be at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease. Effective September 16, 2011, the Veteran's TDIU claim based on PTSD alone is granted. SMC at the statutory housebound rate effective November 1, 2022 is also granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted, and the rating for hypertension is denied. Effective dates are set for various issues related to knee ankylosis.

The Veteran's sleep apnea began during active service and is granted.,The Veteran has a current acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety, depression, PTSD, and alcohol use disorder related to his in-service stressor. A VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes mellitus type 2, heart disorder, respiratory disorder (asthma), and neuropathy of the lower extremity due to unclear medical opinions and potential need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The case is remanded to obtain an opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities and/or medications caused or aggravated his obesity, which may have contributed to his development of diabetes. Toxic exposure claims are also referred.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the receipt of additional VA records. The AOJ will review these records and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II (diabetes), due to herbicide agent exposure and diabetic neuropathy, secondary to service-connected diabetes on a causation basis. The earliest possible effective date is August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been rated at 20 percent since October 20, 2015. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Effective dates for service connection are denied as freestanding claims.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer, both secondary to herbicide exposure. The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, with a disability rating of 30 percent for each right upper extremity from July 6, 2022, and a disability rating of 40 percent for each left upper extremity from July 6, 2022. The Veteran's lower extremities continue to be rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for tuberculosis was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for sleep apnea, fatty liver disease (claimed as liver condition), insulin resistance, and diabetes mellitus were all remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied for the period prior to August 10, 2022. For the period from August 10, 2022, his combined rating of 100% due to multiple service-connected disabilities rendered him eligible for SMC under a separate TDIU determination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused or contributed to his death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted increased ratings, with the right lower extremity receiving a higher rating than left.,TDIU has also been granted from August 25, 2018 to April 12, 2022.