Diabetes decisions — 2026

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus Type II and hypertension are granted as service-connected due to presumptive exposure in Thailand, a location where herbicide agents were presumed to have been present.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The claims of diabetes peripheral neuropathy and dermatophytosis are denied as there is no current diagnosis. The claim for BPH will be remanded to determine if obesity caused or aggravated by service-connected disabilities is a substantial factor in causing or aggravating the Veteran's BPH.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the claim for a respiratory disorder due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination report.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted a 70 percent evaluation, diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic nephropathy are denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, Neurocognitive Impairment, CFS, Chronic Pain Disorder, Neck and Upper Airway Disorder, Obesity, Nephropathy, Bilateral Pes Planus, Left Knee Disorder, Left Shoulder Disorder, Right Shoulder Disorder, Right Wrist Disorder, Lumbar Spine Disorder, Bilateral Lower Extremity Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (PN), Hearing Loss, ED, and GU Disorder. The decision is based on the absence of a current diagnosis for these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is warranted due to incomplete medical examination.,The VA examiner concluded that the cervical spine disability was less likely than not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board finds this opinion inadequate as it did not address whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is a congenital defect and if so, whether there was aggravation during service.,The VA examiner noted that the Veteran's pes planus is a congenital condition and concluded that it is an incidental finding with no symptoms related to his service. The Board finds this opinion inadequate as it did not address whether the pes planus is a congenital defect or disease, nor if there was aggravation during service.,The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, obesity, and CKD. No specific issues are listed regarding these conditions in the decision summary.,The Veteran's hypertension is not addressed in the decision summary.

The Veteran's TDIU claim based on a single service-connected disability for purposes of special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is denied as he had a combined total schedular disability rating and was receiving special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) due to his right knee disability and additional service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim based on need for aid and attendance is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to a duty to assist error, as the VA examiners did not consider all relevant evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a higher rating of diabetes as the appellant requested to withdraw her appeal.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate prior to December 6, 2018 were denied due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation solely as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various foot, hand, and hip disabilities. The Board has ordered a new examination to address the severity of his right foot disability and to determine if any left foot conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is not related to service and cannot be presumed due to a chronic condition. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptoms, and there are no medical opinions linking the diabetes to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remands and additional development is needed, including research on potential exposure to herbicides and decontamination procedures. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 5, 2022 was denied as the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unclear TERA participation. The Veteran's STRs were destroyed in a fire, and his SPRs have not been obtained. The AOJ must attempt to obtain these records and clarify the nature of the Veteran's TERA participation.

The Board has determined that the September 30, 2025, VA Form 20-0996 was properly filed in response to a previous rating decision and that the request for TDIU is timely. The appeal regarding TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted an initial rating of 40 percent effective April 29, 2014. Effective dates for service connection and SMC benefits are also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to March 15, 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic heart disease (diagnosed as arteriosclerotic heart disease), hypertension, bilateral diabetic upper extremity neuropathy, bilateral diabetic lower extremity neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure.