Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder did not cause or contribute to his current hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for amputation above the left and right knees secondary to service-connected Diabetes Mellitus, Type II has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

Service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Thailand.,Service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is denied.

The Board granted service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, both associated with diabetes mellitus type II. The claims for peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral upper extremities were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II, hypothyroidism, and peripheral neuropathies of bilateral lower and upper extremities have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.,The Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The rating for bilateral hearing loss in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board denied the Appellant's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of a diabetic ulcer disability and also denied her request for a higher rating. The earliest possible effective date was found to be January 21, 2021.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding in-service exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of headaches, diabetes and glaucoma due to procedural issues and the need for additional medical examination.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II to obtain a medical opinion addressing whether one or more of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused his diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for hyperlipidemia and erectile dysfunction, but remanded claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of the Veteran's cause of death to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the conditions listed as causes of death and their relation to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II was denied as the criteria were not met.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, headaches (claimed as migraines), back strain, and neck strain. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a renal disorder, finding that his only diagnosed renal disorder was kidney stones and not diabetic nephropathy. The decision is based on the lack of evidence supporting a current renal disorder other than kidney stones.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and/or Parkinsonism as due to herbicide exposure, and for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities associated with diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to ongoing uncertainty regarding his diagnoses and need for further evaluations.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, effective from September 29, 2022. The Veteran's condition was previously rated at 10 percent prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding it presumptively linked to the Veteran's military service in Vietnam.

The Board dismissed the appeals of duty to assist errors for diabetes mellitus, type II, left ear infections, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus as they were not final decisions.

The Board has found that there is a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents, and thus remands for further development.