Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 100% effective from the date of his January 30, 2023 supplemental claim. The other service connection claims are remanded.

Service connection for hypertension is granted.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity is denied.,Effective dates for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities (right and left) are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted with an effective date of May 26, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective January 21, 2020. The Board denied an earlier effective date.,The Veteran was granted eligibility for DEA benefits effective January 21, 2020. The Board denied an earlier effective date.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all listed conditions due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment due to his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II were granted effective August 10, 2021.,Erectile dysfunction was also granted as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, particularly those from Community Care providers and non-VA providers received by the VA but not associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy affecting the sciatic nerve, as well as his diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation on account of loss of use of a creative organ was also denied.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the March 15, 2021 VBA letter rejecting your request for Higher-Level Review is not an appealable decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, diabetes, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The appeal is dismissed as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected hypertension and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically obtaining missing VA treatment records and private medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for diabetes, as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran claims that his service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated obesity, which led to diabetes. However, the VA examiners did not provide adequate rationale in their opinions regarding whether PTSD caused or aggravated obesity and if this obesity was a substantial factor in causing diabetes.

The Board has granted service connection for myxoid inflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma and diabetes mellitus type II, both presumed to be due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for diabetes, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's obesity and subsequent diabetes are caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The case will be sent back to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding this theory of entitlement.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested the withdrawal of his entire appeal concerning service connection for cervical strain, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, dizziness reported as vertigo, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's ocular disabilities, including diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus (DMII), skin rash, infection, cardiomyopathy, fluid around the heart, mesothelioma, and PTSD. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's exposure to toxins, including asbestos, and herbicide agents during his active service.

The Board has dismissed all increased rating claims and the special monthly compensation claim due to the Veteran's death.