Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension to include as secondary to a service-connected disability due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is presumed to have participated in a TERA, particularly by virtue of his deployment to Southwest Asia where he was exposed to toxic substances. A VA examination and medical opinion are needed regarding the onset and relationship of type II diabetes mellitus to service and whether it is related to or aggravated by TERA exposure. For hypertension, a VA medical opinion is also required considering total potential exposure through all applicable military deployments and synergistic effects of TERA.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Type II diabetes mellitus is granted due to exposure to herbicides during his time stationed near the DMZ in Korea.

The Board has granted service connection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Extremities due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus is found to have its onset during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's death was caused by diabetes mellitus type II, which is service-connected. The Board found that the service-connected diabetes was the principal cause of his death.

The Veteran's dementia, diagnosed as mild neurocognitive disorder, is granted service connection secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. His rating for diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent.

The appeal for service connection on five conditions (heart condition, high blood pressure, diabetes, left foot swelling, and left leg swelling) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus associated with herbicide exposure. The Veteran's headaches have been linked to his military service, while there is no evidence linking the diabetes to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities and a bilateral feet skin condition have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Board has identified due process errors and is remanding the issues of the propriety of reductions in the Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy ratings, as well as the issue of an earlier effective date for Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 13, 2021.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, pancreatic cancer, and chronic pain in multiple body parts. The appeals are being remanded to consider additional evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are granted from December 6, 2018 to November 4, 2019 due to his service-connected heart condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding various service connection claims due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Diabetes Mellitus, Type II (DM), tinnitus, and Hypertension (HTN) have been denied. The Veteran was also remanded for further review of his claim for service connection for a disability manifest by dizziness secondary to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's IHD is rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable criteria. His DM is currently rated at 20 percent, and tinnitus at 10 percent. The Veteran's HTN does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to the specified dates are denied as there is no evidence of a pending claim or service connection request for these conditions prior to those dates.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Type II diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, as well as his TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need to obtain SSA records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease have been granted. The rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 16, 2015 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hypertension and diabetes due to incomplete records from Dr. W.R.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and high cholesterol due to a lack of current diagnoses in the record.