Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and a bilateral eye disability, to include diabetic retinopathy, as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and analysis.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, on a basis other than the PACT Act due to in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the upper and lower extremities, dizziness and unsteady gait, poor appetite and low weight, and diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as the evidence did not support a finding of herbicide exposure during active duty in Korea, and there was no other theory of entitlement presented.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of low back disability, right leg disability, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension was denied as the evidence did not show diastolic pressure of predominantly 100 or more, which is required for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted due to his service-connected disabilities meeting the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with bilateral diabetic retinopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating as his condition only required one or more daily injection of insulin and restricted diet.

The appeals for increased disability rating and service connection have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and hypothyroidism, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and certificates of eligibility for SAH and SHA grant is dismissed.,A rating of 100 percent for service-connected PTSD, effective August 18, 2020, is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and hypothyroidism, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's diabetes is not service connected as it did not develop due to his service-connected neck disorder, and the evidence does not support a secondary service connection based on obesity.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran's right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy is rated at 40 percent.,The Veteran's left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy is rated at 40 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's appeals for earlier effective dates in her claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board has denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, right toe disability, right shoulder strain, and hypertension. The Veteran's right toe disability was granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA secured medical opinions were inadequate and requires additional opinions to address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused obesity, if obesity was a substantial factor in causing diabetes, and whether diabetes would not have occurred but for obesity. The decision also notes that an intermediate step theory of entitlement is required.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes and skin cancer due to a failure to obtain adequate opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and the veteran's exposure to toxic substances during service, including asbestos, PFAs, drinking water chemicals, and a burn pit. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the current diagnoses are at least as likely as not caused by these exposures.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for diabetic retinopathy with macular edema and pseudophakia, as well as the grants of service connection for right upper extremity, right lower extremity, left upper extremity, and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, are all denied prior to December 27, 2019.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 with diabetes mellitus type 1, finding that the earliest effective date was January 23, 2020.