Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded all but one of the claims for additional development, particularly to determine whether the Veteran served in Vietnam and was exposed to tactical herbicide agents. The dental disability claim is denied as there is no indication or assertion that tactical herbicide agents resulted in a dental disability.

The Veteran's hypertension was denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition.,Higher ratings for upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy were denied due to the severity of symptoms and muscle strength levels.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and insufficient medical evidence. The AOJ must verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand or Vietnam, if not already conceded. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for diabetes and headaches due to a lack of VA examinations, which constitutes a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and amputated left toes, require regular aid and attendance of another person. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that exposure to herbicide agents during service is presumed and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction was restored to a 40 percent rating effective July 1, 2020. The ratings for left and right lower extremity femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy were reduced to zero percent effective the same date.

The Veteran's application for Legacy S-DVI was denied due to his history of liver cancer, Hepatitis C, and GERD. The Board has determined that the decision on appeal is flawed due to a lack of underwriting procedures compliance and procedural errors in notification.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding whether service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated obesity, and if so, whether obesity was a substantial factor in causing OSA.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents (including Agent Orange) in Korea and had a current diagnosis of the condition. The decision is based on the presumption of exposure due to service in the Korean DMZ.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus with obesity acting as an intermediary step.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically related to the Veteran's alleged in-service exposures. The AOJ is required to research the Veteran's exposure records based on his allegations of herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error by obtaining non-VA treatment records from his primary provider.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and hypertension, effective August 10, 2022. Additionally, the Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a creative organ, also effective August 10, 2022.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the claimant, and no service connection is granted for any condition.

The Board has found that the February 2021 VA examination is inadequate for determining whether the Veteran's diabetes requires regulation of activities, and thus remands the case to schedule a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vision impairment is related to his active service and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether any of his diagnosed eye conditions had their onset during service or are otherwise causally related.

The Veteran's TBI has rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, requiring hospitalization or nursing home care if not provided by his spouse. The Board granted a higher level of SMC(t) for the residuals of his TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and will consider service connection for diabetes mellitus on the merits. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type I and/or type II, existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension. The claims of service connection for left knee condition and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to insufficient evidence.