Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 11, 2021; no single service-connected disability rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation on or after January 11, 2021.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease, finding that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Okinawa and insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between these conditions and service.

The appeal regarding diabetes mellitus (DM) is dismissed. The appeals for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and hypertension are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, back disorder, and hypertension. The Veteran's bilateral foot condition (shin splints) and vision/eye condition were not addressed in the decision.,Service connection was remanded for coronary artery disease, left leg angioplasty, right leg angioplasty, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease are granted as presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam. The heart disability is also presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and various diabetic neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective December 18, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his neck and back conditions, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and diabetic neuropathy, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and prostate disability due to exposure to herbicide agents in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The Veteran's claims were not supported by credible evidence of exposure.,There is no current evidence showing that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service. As a result, presumptive service connection for these conditions based on herbicide agent exposure cannot be granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, and hypertension are granted as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during his active duty in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II, both claimed to be due to herbicide agent exposure in Panama, are remanded. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the service connection issues.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the left upper, right upper, left lower, and right lower extremities as they are proximately related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure is being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right upper, lower extremity, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, GERD, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for diabetes mellitus, various peripheral neuropathies, sleep disorder, erectile dysfunction, and other conditions were denied.,There was no evidence of herbicide exposure or service in Vietnam that would have triggered a presumption of exposure.

The Veteran's right upper extremity neuropathy is rated at 30 percent, which meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further review, specifically regarding whether the Veteran is eligible for TDIU based solely on his service-connected disabilities prior to March 30, 2020. The decision also includes a recommendation that the claim be referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset and cause of his diabetes, as well as whether obesity caused by service-connected disabilities contributed to his diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The appeal is remanded due to the need for further evaluation and evidence regarding service connection for low back disability, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and hypertension.