Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, finding that it is related to his multiple service-connected disabilities and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer are granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Diabetes Mellitus type II, with Hypertension, Erectile Dysfunction and Bilateral Eye Diabetic Retinopathy. The decision is based on two private opinions that support a causal relationship between the service-connected conditions and the development of OSA.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension was dismissed as untimely due to the filing of an untimely VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's service connection for hypothyroidism is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for an increased rating for type II diabetes mellitus (DM II) remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 13, 2020 for the grant of a 20 percent disability rating for RLE PVD. The appellant's DPN was found to have progressed to include the femoral nerves in both lower extremities as of August 15, 2020.,The Board denied entitlement to an effective date prior to August 15, 2020 for service connection of bilateral lower extremity DPN, femoral nerve and sciatic nerve. The appellant's DPN was found not to have progressed to include the femoral nerves in both lower extremities until August 15, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disability and diabetes mellitus, type II due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type 2 (DM II) and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims of service connection for a headache disability, low back disability, and heart disability remain denied.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board will schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his diabetic neuropathy.

The Board has found that there are potentially outstanding VA and/or private treatment records prior to October 17, 2018, which may be relevant as to the date entitlement arose. The Veteran is being asked to provide authorization for these records.

The Veteran's diabetes and heart conditions are granted on a direct basis due to exposure during service, with the heart condition being secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and a duty to assist error. The issues include obesity, increased appetite, heat intolerance, arthritis, abdominal condition, nervous condition (including tremors and nervousness), hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety and insomnia), diabetes mellitus, heart condition (including tachycardia), and gynecological condition (including menstrual irregularities).

The Veteran's bilateral feet have lost all effective function due to service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and he requires regular aid and attendance of another due to multiple service-connected disabilities. His claim for SMC is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the entitlement to a total disability evaluation due to individual unemployability (TDIU) after filing an incorrect request. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating higher than 10% for tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating is already assigned.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating higher than 20% for prostate cancer residuals prior to May 7, 2024 was denied. A 40% rating from that date forward was granted.,The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for DM II with erectile dysfunction and postoperative cataracts, as well as right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting the sciatic and femoral nerves were not addressed in this decision.,The appeal for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy disabilities was remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and atrial fibrillation are found to have caused his obesity, which in turn likely caused his sleep apnea. As a result, the Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an allowance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as they do not result in physical loss of use of hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision, severe burn injury, or ALS.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 disability was rated at 10 percent from May 19, 2021 to September 29, 2021 and at 20 percent since September 30, 2021. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and incomplete medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.