Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as the probative evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The appeal for service connection for high cholesterol was dismissed, and the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, eye disorder (to include glaucoma), diabetes, hypertension, anemia, sinusitis, headache disorder, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, right wrist disability, and left wrist disability were denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence and need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with severe alcohol use disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for medical nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's service at Camp LeJeune and a TERA examination. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and TDIU are being remanded.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right foot disability, left foot disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, neck disability, sinusitis, and type II diabetes mellitus, to obtain private treatment records.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's right medial nerve injury and right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, finding that the evidence was approximately balanced in favor of severe incomplete paralysis during the appeal period.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction remains in dispute and will be remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy involving the sciatic nerve, right lower extremities has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides in the territorial waters of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and a skin disability due to new evidence received after the AOJ decision. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered by the AOJ with consideration of the newly submitted evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his disabilities and active service. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if any of his claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right foot conditions, including his diabetic foot ulcer, hammertoes, hallux abducto valgus, and pes planus. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of October 24, 2019 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was granted. The claim for earlier effective date prior to October 24, 2019 for obstructive sleep apnea was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are related to service, specifically his exposure to asbestos. The VA is instructed to obtain an adequate VA opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for kidney cancer, diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to morbid obesity and kidney cancer, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to morbid obesity due to the need for further development. The Veteran's claims are not supported by evidence that his conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the case to determine whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama in 1979 and to obtain an opinion on the etiology of his DM II.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to an incomplete record, specifically missing private treatment reports from Kaiser dated since 2017.

The appeal for a TDIU is dismissed as moot because the Veteran has been assigned a 100 percent rating, which meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and medical opinions. The issues of aid and attendance are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the service connection issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 9, 2023. The evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.