Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II with mild diabetic retinopathy with macular edema of the bilateral eyes has been withdrawn. The Board also remanded the claims for nuclear cataracts and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Gulf War region qualifies him for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's cause of death, carcinoma of the pancreas, is found to be related to his herbicide exposure during active duty service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as there was no prior claim or reasonable inference of the need for TDIU before February 2020. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of employment in a protected work environment.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents and also granted service connection for kidney disease secondary to hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, and now service-connected diabetes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, diabetic nephropathy, and hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence does not support a finding of herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person was denied as he did not meet the criteria for such benefits prior to October 25, 2021.

The Veteran's bladder cancer, diabetes mellitus type II and heart disease are granted service connection as they are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities has been granted effective July 12, 2018. Higher initial ratings are denied.

The Veteran's diabetes is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service heat stroke, bacterial pneumonia, mumps vaccine, rubella vaccine, or hepatitis A vaccine.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been granted, with the evidence showing that his in-service exposure to toxins caused his condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bladder cancer has also been granted, with the evidence showing that his in-service exposure to toxins caused his condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. The Veteran's hypertension was granted a compensable rating of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and throat cancer due to new legislation that created a presumption of toxic exposure for covered veterans. The Veteran's military records show he served in Southwest Asia from December 1990 to May 1991.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on both his other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and diabetes with nephropathy is being remanded due to the need to consider private medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims of an increased rating for a right knee disability, service connection for a back disability, service connection for a neck disability, and service connection for diabetes mellitus due to pre-existing duty to assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The AOJ needs to obtain a new VA medical opinion addressing causation and aggravation of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction.

The appeal of service connection for blisters, cervical strain, incontinence, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus has been dismissed as the VA Form 10182 was submitted after the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability, right ankle disability, and sleep apnea. As a result, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to herbicide agents and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for CAD, DMII, PCT, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to DMII, and stroke as secondary to DMII due to a lack of consideration on the merits.