Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance due to lack of permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, or vision.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy. The evidence is at least in balance that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service due to exposure to contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and OSA are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for GERD is remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether it is secondary to his service-connected conditions.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.,Service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.,Service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer are granted due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, including during a training exercise near the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied, with the exception of the award of an effective date earlier than April 16, 2019 for the assignment of a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus (DM).,All other issues related to service connection or increased ratings have been dismissed due to lack of pending claims.

The Board has remanded the claim due to a duty to assist error regarding psychiatric disorders related to service-connected disabilities. The appellant contends that the Veteran's death was caused by his military service and/or his service-connected conditions.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.,Service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.,Service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.

The Veteran's anemia is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetic nephropathy.,Service connection for diabetic nephropathy has been granted with a rating of 80 percent effective November 14, 2022, and 100 percent from July 20, 2023.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent prior to December 10, 2017, and the claim is denied for higher ratings based on current evidence not meeting criteria for a 40 or 60 percent rating under DC 7913.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities has been granted with initial evaluations of 10 percent each.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the need for additional development and clarification of opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from February 2, 2013, to October 10, 2018, due to his service-connected disabilities rendering him incapable of substantial gainful employment.

The Board remands the claims for further development of evidence, specifically requesting that VA obtain and review records scanned into the Vista Imaging system.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not verifying the Veteran's reported exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are now before the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) due to herbicide exposure and neuropathy in the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to DMII, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service within twelve nautical miles of Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is dismissed because the issue was already pending in the legacy system and did not timely opt into the modernized review system.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes), and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and congestive heart failure with implanted cardiac pacemaker associated with hypertension.

The Board has determined that the AOJ made errors in not considering whether the Veteran's depression/mental problems may have been related to service, and has also failed to consider if the Veteran participated in river boat patrols while serving in Vietnam. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's earlier effective date claims for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, right lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy have been remanded due to the need for further action.,For hypertension, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates the Veteran's initial claim on October 1, 2022.,For obstructive sleep apnea, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates the Veteran's intent to file a claim in May 2016.,For diabetes mellitus, type II, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates the Veteran's initial claim on September 20, 2011.,For diabetic nephropathy, an earlier effective date is denied as it predates December 18, 2017 when entitlement first arose.,For right lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy and left lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy, earlier effective dates are remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically regarding incomplete military personnel and medical records.