Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy is denied. The claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity is also denied as it was granted based on the February 22, 2023 submission of his increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted due to credible evidence of herbicide agent exposure during classified operations within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus Type II and Right Knee Condition due to new evidence received that is relevant to these issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of asthma, left hand condition, diabetes mellitus type II, and neck condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the disease was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to their functional impact on his fine motor skills and muscular weakness.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for OSA and DMII due to inadequate VA opinions that did not address possible aggravation by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was received on September 12, 2023. The Board denied the request for an earlier effective date as the claim was filed more than a year after separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected peptic ulcer disease with gastroesophageal reflux disease due to insufficient medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to DM, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and CAD have been granted under the PACT Act. The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Guam.,Service connection has also been established for prostate cancer and Parkinson's Disease.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic nephropathy is granted with an effective date of April 22, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetic retinopathy is granted as it is secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes. The claims for spinal stroke/paralysis, peripheral artery disease of the right lower extremity, and peripheral artery disease of the left lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and Parkinson's disease are not related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's diabetes is related to service exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is caused by his service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with MDD due to obesity, which was an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol has been denied as hyperlipidemia is not a ratable disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and high blood pressure are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions considering his lay statements regarding exposure to toxic substances during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for neck disability is also remanded as it requires an examination addressing his lay statements about lifting heavy equipment in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as due to herbicide agent exposure, finding that there was no evidence of exposure and that the disease did not begin during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is remanded due to the need for an addendum medical opinion. The claims of increased rating for diabetes mellitus type 2 and compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any condition.