Diabetes decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, glaucoma, COPD, allergic rhinitis, and a neck disorder were denied. The Board found no current disability in each case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for morbid obesity, difficulty walking, allergic rhinitis, otitis media, gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis and onychomycosis are also denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for difficulty walking is denied as it is a symptom of other diagnosed conditions, including back disability, bilateral knee disability, and pes planus. The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is denied due to lack of medical nexus between the condition and in-service incurrence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for otitis media is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), polyneuropathy of the left upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the right upper extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy), and polyneuropathy of the right lower extremity (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinea pedis is denied as there are no contemporaneous records indicating a diagnosis prior to separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing is granted due to his service-connected disabilities affecting both lower extremities, resulting in the equivalent of loss of use. The appeal concerning a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot because the Veteran is now eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a pre-decisional hearing, and any decision made by the Agency of Original Jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility to enroll in the PCAFC is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and because he now meets the threshold eligibility criteria.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings and TDIU, leaving only the issues of service connection unresolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents and/or dioxides. The case is being returned to the RO for further development, including verifying the Veteran's reported service at Eglin AFB and Kadena AFB, obtaining independent verification of his claimed exposure to herbicide agents and dioxides, and obtaining new VA opinions regarding the etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and TDIU/SMC due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining legible copies of private treatment records from Dr. A.H. and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient explanation in the August 2021 CEAT determination regarding the Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC based on his need for personal care services. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a more detailed and thoroughly explained medical opinion.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of December 12, 2007 for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found that the January 2022 Records Research Center report established that the Veteran served in Vietnam and thus met the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease (CAD) are granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's basal cell carcinoma is also granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for residuals of gallbladder removal and hypertension is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate reasons and bases in its August 2024 decision, specifically failing to address the Veteran's argument that he was exposed to TCDD during his service in the Persian Gulf. The Board will direct the AOJ to obtain a VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the toxins to which the Veteran was presumptively exposed caused his diabetes.

The Veteran's dizziness is associated with his diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension. The Board denied service connection for dizzy spells.,There is no current diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy in the Veteran's medical records. The Board denied service connection for diabetic neuropathy.,The Veteran failed to report for a necessary examination without good cause. The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD).,The evidence does not establish that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD. The Board denied service connection for PTSD.,There is no current diagnosis of vision in the Veteran's medical records. The Board denied service connection for vision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not eligible for PCAFC due to his inability to perform ADLs and lack of significant impairments. The case is being remanded to obtain a more detailed medical opinion regarding personal care services, supervision or protection needs.

The Veteran was found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities from April 1, 2010 to September 11, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, prostate cancer with benign prostatic hypertrophy, and diabetes mellitus type II from the date of the decision. These conditions are found to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its related neuropathies (RLE and LLE), finding that the Veteran's obesity, which was caused by his service-connected left ankle and knee disabilities, led to his development of diabetes.,Service connection is also granted for osteomyelitis, with the Board concluding that it was aggravated by the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart condition and diabetes mellitus, finding insufficient evidence to link these conditions to service or any other presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and other claims have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea, finding that there is at least an even balance of evidence supporting this claim.