Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits claim is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the impact of his additional and increased service-connected disabilities on his employment capabilities. The case will be readjudicated after a new evaluation with a VRC.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was withdrawn on December 22, 2015. The new claim was received by VA on January 4, 2023, and granted effective as of that date.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and effective dates due to incomplete medical records, including those from VA Community Care programs. The Veteran's right knee disability is being evaluated again, with a focus on whether it is related to her in-service knee pain or secondary to her shin splints. Effective date issues are also being addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand are granted. The PACT Act of 2022 expanded the presumption of herbicide agent exposure to all of Thailand and established hypertension as a presumptive condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw all pending appeals.

The Veteran's unemployability was factually ascertainable by the record since September 2013, and his TDIU claim was not received within one year of this date. Therefore, the effective date for the grant of TDIU is May 4, 2017.

Your claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been granted, and you are now receiving a 20% evaluation starting from October 19, 2023. The appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has already been granted in full.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is secondary to his service-connected left hip condition, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left knee meniscal and cruciate ligament tear with arthritis, and right knee tibia fracture with shin splints. The Board finds the February 2022 private medical opinion more probative than the VA medical opinions regarding obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has remanded the claims for posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to outstanding evidence from the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) related to a compensation benefits fraud investigation conducted in 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and a blood disorder which causes blood clots due to exposure to herbicides while stationed on Okinawa.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and atrial fibrillation and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy due to service-connected PTSD or herbicide exposure. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding no evidence of worsening conditions or entitlement to a higher rating within the one-year look-back period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as his disabilities are not sufficient to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to obtain medical opinions and examinations prior to issuing the December 2023 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to in-service exposure to toxic chemicals and diesel fuel, as well as other identified TERAs. The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus, recurrent neurological disabilities, thyroid disability, and prostate cancer are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and a need for further medical opinion regarding the relation between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his cause of death.

The Board finds that the Veteran's request for higher-level review was timely filed, and thus remands the claims for further review.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent since June 30, 2021. The claim for increased rating is denied. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 is remanded.