Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought (service connection) has already been granted.,An increased rating of 20 percent for left knee strain with instability from August 17, 2021, is granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains pending.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee strain with limitation of flexion has been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA, neck disability, right shoulder disability, and diabetes due to new and relevant evidence. The left shoulder disability claim is denied as no new and relevant evidence was received.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back disability, foot disability (drop foot), hand disability (numbness in the hand), neck disability, right knee disability, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board has remanded the claims of eye disability and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for hypertension, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II, heart disability, and arteriosclerosis obliterans due to unavailability of service treatment records and personnel records. The VA is required to schedule the appellant for appropriate examinations to determine the probable nature, date(s) of initial onset, and etiology/etiologies of his claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to July 18, 2023, for his total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the evidence did not establish an inability to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's prostate disability is rated at 60 percent, but no higher. The claims for increased ratings of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the left and right lower extremities are granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for earlier effective dates due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's service exposure and the need to verify the vessel's position on or near April 5, 1969. The appeal is based on presumptive exposure under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus are granted as they are presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to June 2, 2017 are being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since June 23, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, residuals of TIA (stroke), dysarthric dysphagia secondary to stroke, and peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and bladder cancer on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for kidney cancer is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and Parkinson's disease are granted on a basis other than the PACT Act.,Earlier effective dates of December 1, 2016 are granted for various service-connected conditions.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities and is also granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of whether there is new and relevant evidence to readjudicate his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, the matter has been dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes planus is granted. The claims for diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), fibromyalgia, and erectile dysfunction are denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, left knee condition, and right knee condition are not shown to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral heel spurs. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including diabetes, stroke, and vision problems, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment from July 1, 2019, to February 16, 2022.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection must be remanded again due to insufficient information regarding his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and further development is needed for examinations related to his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is in need of personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months due to his neurological and psychiatric conditions. The PCAFC program eligibility will be reconsidered based on whether participation would be in the Veteran's best interest.