Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, OSA, and peripheral neuropathies, prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment as of January 5, 2015. The Board grants TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted service connection based on the PACT Act presumption of herbicide exposure. Service connection for congestive heart failure as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, is remanded due to a need for a VA opinion.

The Veteran's entitlement to a rating of 20 percent for diabetic retinopathy, both eyes from May 13, 2018 to January 26, 2021 is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and prostate cancer have been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for residuals of prostate cancer, lung disability (IPF), kidney disease, and IBS are remanded due to new evidence submitted after the prior final rating decisions.

The appeal is remanded for correction of pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding the severity assessment and treatment records, as well as for adjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection and increased ratings, as the Veteran withdrew his appeals for these claims during a hearing. The Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for a disorder characterized by abnormal weight/gain, brain damage, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic muscle and joint pain, diabetes mellitus type II, irritable bowel syndrome, left rotator cuff tear, loss of smell, loss of taste, other specified depressive disorder, skin disorder, umbilical hernia, sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity, sciatic nerve were found to not warrant higher disability ratings as the evidence did not show that regulation of activities was required for either condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with his other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that TDIU is warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and hypertension as they require further development under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted with effective dates of June 26, 2014. The conditions include arteriosclerotic heart disease (CAD) with acute, subacute, or old myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft, DMII, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the right lower extremity, femoral nerve, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the left lower extremity, femoral nerve, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the right upper extremity, radial nerve, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the left upper extremity, radial nerve. These conditions are associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's right leg amputation is being reviewed for service connection, including as secondary to another service-connected disability.

The Veteran's OSA and HT are granted service connection, while his DM is denied as secondary to OSA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DMII and bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathies are being remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.,The Board finds that a duty to assist occurred in these secondary service-connection claims, requiring further development.

The Veteran's death was caused by cerebral stroke, vascular dementia, and cardiorespiratory arrest. The Board finds that a medical opinion is necessary to determine if his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II played a role in causing or aggravating these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the above-captioned claims at this time.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type I as a chronic disease, finding that the Veteran's disability manifested to a compensable degree within one year of his separation from service and is not attributable to intercurrent causes. The decision is based on the presumption of service connection due to its onset during the first post-service year.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (diabetes), as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot and lumbosacral disabilities. The decision finds that obesity was an intermediate step between these conditions and the current diagnosis of diabetes.