Diabetes decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for prostate issues and gall stones have been granted. The claims for liver problems, colon issues, eye vision, thyroid disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and kidney disorder remain unresolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder and diabetes with associated peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has granted reconsideration of the service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to new and relevant evidence, specifically the Veteran's service personnel records. The appeal is remanded for further action regarding herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Board has identified errors in the prior examination and remands the case for a new opinion to address whether the Veteran's diabetes is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including right ankle and psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease for accrued benefits purposes due to a lack of an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER). The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss for accrued benefits purposes is denied as there was no new and relevant evidence presented.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DM has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 7, 2019 for the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, right hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's low back condition is granted service connection, and he is awarded a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD. His diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and hypertension is granted service connection but denied an increased rating. The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve are each granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty in Gulfport, Mississippi. The claims are based on presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction are granted, effective May 31, 2019.,The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's initial hypertension evaluation is denied, but he was granted a 100% evaluation for six months following his stroke and TDIU from September 21, 2022. The appeal is remanded for further evaluations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service-connected left tibia/fibula stress fracture with shin splints and left heel spur.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on five separate conditions (diabetes mellitus, type II; low back disability; right knee disability; left knee disability; and sleep apnea) have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for left hand frostbite residuals, right hand frostbite residuals, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted. The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and right foot gangrene status post trans tibial amputation are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence had been received and reconsidered the claims but confirmed and continued the previous denials. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and GERD are remanded for additional development to address pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and sleep apnea as secondary to her service-connected PTSD, lumbosacral strain, and left knee disabilities with obesity as an intermediate step. The case requires further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding proposed reductions in SMC and rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease, as well as the appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's diabetes does not require regulation of activities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are not rated higher than the current levels due to lack of evidence supporting more severe disability.