Diabetes decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for further development. The effective date for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome remains denied.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board cannot issue a decision on your claims as they are no longer pending.

The Board has determined that the March 2025 rating decision did not address all of the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and kidney disorder. The AOJ must provide a TERA examination and medical opinion if necessary to establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and visual impairments due to a lack of medical evidence on the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is not service-connected for any condition related to his exposure to radiation, and diabetes is not considered a radiogenic disease induced by exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM) and neuropathies of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, right upper extremity, and left upper extremity due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the claims for Graves' disease, Paget's disease, and bilateral glaucoma due to a deficiency in the record. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for impaired fasting glucose (pre-diabetes).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, as secondary to her service-connected Hepatitis C or cirrhosis of the liver, is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board finds that there may be a link between the Veteran's diabetes and her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral breast mastectomy and breast cancer are granted as secondary to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during service.,Cushing's syndrome, including pituitary tumor and removal, is granted as secondary to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during service.,Pituitary tumor headaches, heart condition, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension are all granted as secondary to Cushing's syndrome.,The Veteran's hysterectomy is not related to her active service.

The Board has decided the first issue and denied a higher evaluation for DDD with lumbar strain. The second issue of service connection for diabetes type 2 as secondary to service-connected disabilities, including obesity as an intermediate step, is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's type 2 diabetes, left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and dizziness have all been granted service connection. The effective date for the award of service connection for GERD is set at April 5, 2024. TDIU based on heart disability alone has also been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent from November 17, 2023 to May 21, 2024. The claims for service connection for depression, diabetes mellitus type II, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, prostate disability, bladder disability, and arthritis throughout the body are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis to the extent it is related to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder. The left knee disability, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities are denied as not being related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and earlier effective dates for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance. The Veteran's use of medication to alleviate symptoms must be considered in determining the severity of her disabilities.

The Veteran's diagnosed diabetes mellitus, type II, is attributable to service and the Board has granted service connection on a direct basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus left him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from October 31, 2017, and prior to October 2, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking any of his service-connected disabilities to his death from septic shock and multi-system failure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD and an increased rating for CAD. The COPD claim requires a retrospective opinion considering all conceded in-service exposures, including those not previously discussed (e.g., industrial solvent, PCBs, vibration, noise, CARC Paint, PFAS, and Radiation). The CAD claim requires issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case addressing entitlement to a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, and a back disability due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The Board will seek additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions in light of the Veteran's military exposure to burn pits.