Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not require insulin or regulation of activities.

The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of 20% disability ratings for diabetic neuropathy and denied the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for CAD. The Veteran's CAD is now rated at 10%.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes, finding that there is no current disability and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type I due to inadequate examination and duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and hypothyroidism have been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension. The Veteran's claims were previously denied in January 2013 and October 2016, but were reopened and granted in September 2024 with an effective date of August 10, 2022.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals because he did not timely file a valid appeal request for the November 14, 2023, and January 12, 2024, rating decisions. The Veteran was unable to identify which specific issues he wanted to appeal within one year of receiving the decision letters.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and migraine. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes has been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence, which includes medical records showing limitations on his ability to exercise due to back and lower extremity conditions. The Board finds that these records support a finding that obesity, an intermediate step between service-connected disabilities and diabetes, was caused by the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to DIC benefits, service connection for cause of death, and accrued benefits due to the need for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period from February 10, 2016, to December 6, 2027 due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee strain and psychiatric disorders (generalized anxiety disorder and depression) are granted service connection.,Service connection for a thoracolumbar disorder is granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee strain. The Veteran's CAD and DM are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure in service.,The Veteran's CAD is granted based on conceded in-service toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) and hypertension, while his DM is granted based on TERA and service-connected left knee strain.

The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities resulted in a combined schedular evaluation of at least 70% prior to October 15, 2024, and he was able to maintain employment despite his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pre-diabetes, chronic back pain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been denied.,Service connection for a respiratory condition (to include COPD, chronic cough, and dyspnea) and a left lung nodule has also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension (HTN) due to errors in duty to assist. Additional evidence is needed including an updated TERA memo and a VA examiner's addendum opinion.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to procedural defects in the submission of the VA Form 10182, which was not an accepted format for appeal in the modernized review system.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), finding that it is presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure in or near the Korean DMZ during his military service.