Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the need for additional development and clarification of opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from February 2, 2013, to October 10, 2018, due to his service-connected disabilities rendering him incapable of substantial gainful employment.

The Board remands the claims for further development of evidence, specifically requesting that VA obtain and review records scanned into the Vista Imaging system.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not verifying the Veteran's reported exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are now before the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) due to herbicide exposure and neuropathy in the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to DMII, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service within twelve nautical miles of Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is dismissed because the issue was already pending in the legacy system and did not timely opt into the modernized review system.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes), and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and congestive heart failure with implanted cardiac pacemaker associated with hypertension.

The Board has determined that the AOJ made errors in not considering whether the Veteran's depression/mental problems may have been related to service, and has also failed to consider if the Veteran participated in river boat patrols while serving in Vietnam. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's earlier effective date claims for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, right lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy have been remanded due to the need for further action.,For hypertension, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates the Veteran's initial claim on October 1, 2022.,For obstructive sleep apnea, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates the Veteran's intent to file a claim in May 2016.,For diabetes mellitus, type II, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates the Veteran's initial claim on September 20, 2011.,For diabetic nephropathy, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates December 18, 2017 when entitlement first arose.,For right lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy and left lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy, earlier effective dates are remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically regarding incomplete military personnel and medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 25, 2023. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as there was insufficient evidence to substantiate his unemployability by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and presumed exposure to herbicides is granted. The claim for skin condition of the scalp remains denied, as does the claim for right eye blindness due to presumed secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the petitions to readjudicate claims for service connection for groin rash, erectile dysfunction, acquired psychiatric disorder, right and left testicular disabilities, and DM II due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claims for right and left testicular disabilities and DM II are granted based on new evidence submitted since the June 2014 rating decision.

The Veteran's initial rating for CAD is granted at a 60 percent level prior to August 25, 2022. An increased rating in excess of 60 percent from that date is denied. SMC at the housebound rate is granted since March 9, 2021. The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus remains unchanged. Service connection for erectile dysfunction and nerve impairments are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to a lack of supporting documentation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has maintained employment in the past and can perform substantially gainful employment despite his conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for pancreatic cancer, finding that the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances in service is more likely related to his condition.,Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to CIDP. The VA examiner opined that the increase in disability with Prednisone treatment caused an exacerbation of the Veteran's diabetes.

Service connection for myeloid leukemia and diabetes mellitus, type II is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service exposure or chronicity.,The Veteran's current conditions were not incurred during service and are not related to any in-service environmental hazards.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for beneficiary travel benefits for ambulance transportation to the Iowa City VAMC on November 15, 2019. The decision was based on the evidence showing that the Veteran had an emergent condition and was transported from his home to a non-VA emergency room and then to the VA Medical Center in Iowa City.