Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's death was caused by sarcoidosis, blastomycosis, and diabetes mellitus. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand, which contributed to his diabetes mellitus. As a result, the Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the claim for a TDIU from July 19, 2023 due to the grant of a combined 100 percent rating and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The appeal for a TDIU prior to July 19, 2023 is remanded as it may be eligible for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions, including diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, and hyperlipidemia. The Board found that these conditions were not service-connected.,The appellant sought service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his service, but provided no specific evidence supporting this claim.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to service connection for ED secondary to service-connected CAD and DM due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA medical opinions obtained were inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's ED was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, nor did they consider the potential aggravation of ED by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he is not entitled to an increased level of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance, given his current service-connected disabilities and existing levels of SMC.

The Board has granted service connection for a left wrist condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and prostate cancer. The conditions are related to the Veteran's exposure to toxic environmental exposures during his active duty service as a Fuel Specialist.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective June 30, 2017. The Board found that the increase in disability caused by his service-connected conditions made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of this date.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to service connection for ED secondary to service-connected CAD and DM due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA medical opinions obtained were inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's ED was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, nor did they consider the potential aggravation of ED by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide exposure is granted, effective March 30, 2011.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for squamous cell various, skin cancer due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus type II based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for coronary artery disease (CAD) with atrial fibrillation based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for hypertension based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for lymphoma based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for renal adenocarcinoma with renal insufficiency based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are also granted as secondary to the service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide a VA examination for service connection of type 1 diabetes. The appellant claims he developed diabetes during his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal because the issue of entitlement to service connection for left arm diabetic neuropathy prior to October 2020 is moot due to a later grant of benefits in August 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in determining his qualifying service periods and a lack of VA examination regarding his lower back symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to service connection for ED secondary to service-connected CAD and DM due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA medical opinions obtained were inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's ED was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, nor did they consider the potential aggravation of ED by herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, hypertension, heart condition, and hypothyroidism as there is no credible evidence of herbicide agent exposure in the Panama Canal Zone during the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy has been granted with effective dates of June 1, 2020.,Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the loss of use of a creative organ was also granted with an effective date of February 24, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for nephrology, apocrine hidrocystoma of the left eyelid and nose, diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's compensable rating claim for apocrine hidrocystoma of the left eyelid and nose is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Hodgkin's lymphoma.