Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, throat cancer with dysphagia, diabetic retinopathy, hypothyroidism, left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, and diabetes have been remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.,Additionally, the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to April 14, 2021, and earlier effective date for Basic eligibility to Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) benefits are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to chemicals, specifically DDT, during service. The claim will be further developed and a VA medical opinion will be obtained to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to chemical exposure in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus II, including as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability, is dismissed because the effective date of the grant of service connection has already been established and no other benefits are available.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 as secondary to his service-connected nephrosclerosis. The issue of service connection for a cervical spine condition (neck condition) is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes and service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of his bilateral upper and lower extremities was granted, including a TDIU determination. The effective date is set to the date of receipt of the claims (September 6, 2018).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not service-connected due to a remand for further examination and opinion. The lumbosacral strain with spondylolisthesis claim must be remanded as VA did not obtain all relevant private treatment records. The left elbow disability claim also requires additional examination.

The Board has reinstated service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II, coronary artery disease (CAD) s/p CABG, CABG scars, non-linear superficial anterior trunk scar, left lower extremity (LLE) scar, right lower extremity (RLE) scar, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The reinstatement is effective from May 1, 2018.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for chronic lymphocytic leukemia was denied, and his claim for additional SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(f)(4) at the rate higher than subsection (m) was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the case due to an unclear VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and left and right ankle strains aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused or contributed to his type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes and liver cirrhosis are related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was denied due to the lack of a pending claim from 1991, and his formal claim for tinnitus was received on April 17, 2022.,The Veteran's low back disability claim is denied as there is no evidence of record demonstrating a current disability or functional impairment related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for myeloma and type II diabetes mellitus were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides during service. The claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.,Service connection could not be established due to lack of exposure to Agent Orange, and the Veteran did not have any diagnosed conditions related to these claims in service or within the presumptive period.

The Board has remanded the claims of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus, type II; compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for kidney cancer; and entitlement to aid and attendance allowance for Rosemary Ward due to a failure to request the Veteran's medical records prior to May 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prediabetes, high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), and high blood pressure have been denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed disability.,Service connection for hypervascular lesions within the liver, erectile dysfunction, and infertility has also been denied. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or any service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's varicosities in his left calf have been considered as potentially contributing to his current hypervascular lesions within the liver.

The Veteran's right knee residual scars, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee injury.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion due to potential applicability of the PACT Act, which requires VA to provide a medical examination and secure a nexus opinion if there is evidence of toxic exposure during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for type II diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer residuals have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.,Financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only has not been established due to lack of qualifying service-connected disabilities.