Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, heart disability, and PTSD due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding verification of service in Vietnam and obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC based on housebound status are both granted due to his service-connected atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. He also has other service-connected disabilities that meet the criteria for SMC.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome due to potential toxic exposure in service. The IBS with GERD claim is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for further development.,No specific effective date is assigned as all issues have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining a missing record that could affect the effective date of the grant of accrued benefits.

The Veteran was awarded a TDIU due solely to PTSD from June 26, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.,From March 6, 2023, the Veteran also received SMC at the housebound rate based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has restored service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, right foot peripheral neuropathy, and left foot peripheral neuropathy. Service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis claim for an initial compensable rating remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and higher initial disability ratings due to insufficient evidence of claims prior to the specified dates.

The Board denied service connection for a tonsil disorder, to include tonsillitis with tonsillectomy, as there was no current disability involving the tonsils. The claims for kidney disability, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were remanded for further development.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II based on a presumption of herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and allergic rhinitis, based on presumptive service connection for exposure to fine particulate matter during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for allergic rhinitis was denied on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, type II diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, as he is capable of at least sedentary work.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. The Veteran's congestive heart failure is also found to be related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the feet, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, diabetes, gout, and hypertension due to potential exposure to hazardous noise, chemicals, or other substances during service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, high cholesterol, memory loss, anosmia, and vision disorder as his appeal was not timely filed.

The Veteran's death was caused by ischemic heart disease, which is a recognized presumptive disease for exposure to herbicide agents. However, the appellant did not have any pending claims at the time of the Veteran's death and thus is not eligible for accrued benefits.