Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for urinary frequency, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy disabilities, and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is dismissed due to the invalidity of his July 2019 Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus type 2 and its associated neuropathies, prostate cancer with bladder dysfunction, and radiation proctitis with anemia, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU based on the cumulative effect of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and diabetes peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his military service and these conditions, given his exposure to burn pits during his deployments.

The Board has decided that service connection is denied for right thumb strain. Service connection is remanded for diabetes mellitus type II and erectile dysfunction, as the AOJ did not obtain adequate medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion and incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMII), and left knee disability. The decision found that the pre-existing conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to toxic substances during military service, including in Southwest Asia and at Fort McClellan. The VA examiners did not adequately address the Veteran's contentions regarding his hazardous exposures.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that the earliest diagnosis was on July 13, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and potential exposure verification issues.

The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and COPD are being remanded due to the receipt of new and relevant evidence. The Veteran was exposed to burn pits during his service in Korea.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act.,Service connection for right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy and left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy is denied as there is no current disability or evidence of such during service.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied due to lack of current disability.

The Board has vacated the previous decisions dismissing claims for service connection for skin conditions, and remanded the claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes mellitus. The issues are now pending before the Board again.

Effective dates of December 8, 2011 are granted for service connection for diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in multiple extremities, erectile dysfunction, and renal failure. Effective date of February 19, 2013 is granted for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD).

The appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II, sleep apnea, posttraumatic stress disorder, nerve damage/diabetic neuropathy in the left lower extremity, and nerve damage/diabetic neuropathy in the right lower extremity have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's death was caused by ischemic heart disease, which has been granted service connection. However, the appellant did not have a pending claim for diabetes mellitus type II or ischemic heart disease at the time of the Veteran's death, so accrued benefits are denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, hypothyroidism, and diabetes mellitus, type II are presumed to be caused by exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer are granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.,The Veteran's renal failure is granted as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is denied as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer. The claim was not submitted within the 90-day period following the Board hearing, and there was no duty-to-assist error related to this issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 was denied, and the effective date of this award is not earlier than October 19, 2021.

The Board has denied service connection for a left ankle disability and diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim of service connection for hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure) is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to need the regular aid and assistance of another person, qualifying for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to SMC by reason of housebound status is moot as a result.