Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic nephropathy is granted with an effective date of April 22, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetic retinopathy is granted as it is secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes. The claims for spinal stroke/paralysis, peripheral artery disease of the right lower extremity, and peripheral artery disease of the left lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and Parkinson's disease are not related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's diabetes is related to service exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is caused by his service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with MDD due to obesity, which was an intermediate step.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol has been denied as hyperlipidemia is not a ratable disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and high blood pressure are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions considering his lay statements regarding exposure to toxic substances during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for neck disability is also remanded as it requires an examination addressing his lay statements about lifting heavy equipment in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as due to herbicide agent exposure, finding that there was no evidence of exposure and that the disease did not begin during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is remanded due to the need for an addendum medical opinion. The claims of increased rating for diabetes mellitus type 2 and compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for stroke, diabetes mellitus type II, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and fibromyalgia as secondary to PTSD with mood disorder due to insufficient examination findings and failure to consider obesity as an intermediate step in causation.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain, finding that the Veteran's injury during basic training is related to his current condition.,Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence linking in-service stomach issues to the development of the disability.

The Veteran's appeals regarding various disabilities were dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused his diabetes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II on a direct basis due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure. The Veteran was granted presumptive service connection under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he asserts is due to herbicide agent exposure in Okinawa, was denied as there was no credible evidence of such exposure and the disease did not manifest within a year of his discharge.

The Veteran's service connection claim for DMII was granted effective April 11, 2020. The initial evaluations for lumbosacral strain and left knee pain were denied. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy disabilities are rated at 20 percent each since April 24, 2021.

The appeal for TDIU from August 1, 2019 is dismissed. The appeal for SMC at the housebound rate from August 2, 2019 to October 7, 2021 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding exposure to tactical herbicide agents. The Board will conduct further development to determine the Veteran's service aboard ships and any potential exposure.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 100 percent, but he does not have a single disability rated at 100 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not result in the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities cause or aggravate his diabetes. The case will be returned for further evaluation.