Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is secondary to his service-connected left hip condition, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left knee meniscal and cruciate ligament tear with arthritis, and right knee tibia fracture with shin splints. The Board finds the February 2022 private medical opinion more probative than the VA medical opinions regarding obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has remanded the claims for posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to outstanding evidence from the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) related to a compensation benefits fraud investigation conducted in 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and a blood disorder which causes blood clots due to exposure to herbicides while stationed on Okinawa.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and atrial fibrillation and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy due to service-connected PTSD or herbicide exposure. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding no evidence of worsening conditions or entitlement to a higher rating within the one-year look-back period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his disabilities are not sufficient to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to obtain medical opinions and examinations prior to issuing the December 2023 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to in-service exposure to toxic chemicals and diesel fuel, as well as other identified TERAs. The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus, recurrent neurological disabilities, thyroid disability, and prostate cancer are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and a need for further medical opinion regarding the relation between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his cause of death.

The Board finds that the Veteran's request for higher-level review was timely filed, and thus remands the claims for further review.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent since June 30, 2021. The claim for increased rating is denied. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance prior to December 15, 2021 was denied as there is no evidence showing he required regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine headache with sensitivity to noise, and Type II diabetes mellitus due to an administrative error that resulted in duplicative claims.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was granted an increased rating to 40 percent, and his service connection claim for dementia was denied. Other claims were remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is service connected due to herbicide exposure.,His peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are secondary to his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities prior to August 10, 2022. The claims were based on direct service connection due to chemical exposure during active duty.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that it is proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has denied service connection for lung condition, kidney condition, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction (ED), left knee condition, right knee condition, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, secondary to his service-connected bilateral leg conditions and obesity, is being remanded due to the lack of an adequate medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, finding that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating beyond the currently assigned 20 percent and 30 percent evaluations.