Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the claims for asthma, IBS, diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and a right knee disorder due to incomplete medical records and failure to provide VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, but the evidence does not support a finding that he is solely unemployable due to one specific condition.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his active military service, and there is no evidence linking the conditions that caused his death (cardiopulmonary arrest, cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) to his time in service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, effective June 9, 2010. The Veteran was diagnosed with the condition in 2007 and his claim was based on herbicide exposure from nautical service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to exposure to harmful noise during active duty.,DEA benefits are granted from September 15, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as the evidence did not show that his diabetes required regulation of activities prior to September 19, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for Alzheimer's disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.,The effective dates for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities and erectile dysfunction have been set at August 10, 2022.

The Veteran is seeking financial assistance in adapting his current home to be fully accessible.,The Board has determined that the Veteran's combination of service-connected disabilities precludes locomotion without the aid of assistive devices, qualifying him for specially adapted housing.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 9, 2021, for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II. The decision is based on the Veteran's timely submission of a complete application after VA notified him that his incomplete application required his signature.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board found that the disability required only restricted diet and an oral glycemic agent.,The Veteran's tinnitus was rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board noted that factors warranting extraschedular rating were not shown.,The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular rating. The Board found that his symptoms did not cause impairment requiring a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and diabetes mellitus have been granted service connection. The claim for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and a bilateral eye disability, to include diabetic retinopathy, as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and analysis.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, on a basis other than the PACT Act due to in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the upper and lower extremities, dizziness and unsteady gait, poor appetite and low weight, and diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as the evidence did not support a finding of herbicide exposure during active duty in Korea, and there was no other theory of entitlement presented.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of low back disability, right leg disability, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension was denied as the evidence did not show diastolic pressure of predominantly 100 or more, which is required for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted due to his service-connected disabilities meeting the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with bilateral diabetic retinopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating as his condition only required one or more daily injection of insulin and restricted diet.

The appeals for increased disability rating and service connection have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.