Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for initial disability ratings and the service connection effective dates for erectile dysfunction, right ear hearing loss, prostate cancer, diabetes, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease have been dismissed due to withdrawal of these appeals.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for prostate cancer, diabetes, and bilateral lower extremity and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as there is no evidence in the record indicating that he filed an informal claim prior to the respective effective dates.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for high cholesterol, left heel contusions, and initial compensable rating for right eye scar. The appeal regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and hearing loss claims are remanded due to inconsistencies in the VA examination report.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his condition does not meet the criteria for a 40 percent or higher rating.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, as his ischemic brain injury, cardiac arrest, ischemic cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease were not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that the Veteran's condition did not have its onset during active service or within one year of discharge and is not otherwise causally related to an in-service disease or injury.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of sufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's OSA, specifically whether it is secondary to his service-connected DM II and diabetic complications. The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed. The Veteran's headaches have been granted a 50% disability rating, effective as of the date of the decision.,The Veteran's IBS has been granted service connection based on a qualifying chronic disability under 38 U.S.C. § 1117 and 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's initial maximum schedular rating of 10 percent for status post bunionectomy, right foot, is granted. Other service-connected conditions are not rated higher.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to December 29, 2009, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The decision found that there was no clear and unmistakable error in any final rating decisions during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to chemical exposure during service, including contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and herbicide agent exposure. The VA is required to obtain medical opinions addressing the possibility of a nexus between his toxic exposure risk activities (i.e., his exposure to contaminated drinking water and other chemicals) and his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits due to service-connected disabilities. The Board has remanded the claims as there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities, but the failure to refer the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to June 20, 2017 to the Director was an error in satisfying a regulatory duty.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss is not granted as service-connected.,Diabetes mellitus, type II, is not granted as service-connected.,Right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis is not granted as service-connected.,Left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis is not granted as service-connected.,Left hip arthritis is not granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's service did not qualify for benefits due to spina bifida or other covered birth defects, as he did not serve in Vietnam, the Korean DMZ, or Thailand. The appellant does not meet the criteria for benefits under 38 U.S.C. �� 1805, 1815, 1821, or 1822.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease (CAD) status post PCI based on new evidence received after the initial denial, with effective dates set at April 8, 2021, and April 13, 2021 respectively.

The Board has received a request for withdrawal of the appeal regarding diabetes and high blood pressure claims. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and hypertension, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure, are being remanded due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding alleged herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and the need for VA examinations and opinions regarding his acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathies, retinopathy, cataracts, and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and a TDIU prior to June 25, 2019 have been dismissed. The appeal for an effective date prior to June 25, 2019 for DEA benefits has also been dismissed.

The Board has determined that the cause of death (cancer of gastro-esophageal junction) may be related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. However, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, the Board is remanding the case for a new medical opinion from an oncologist regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes contributed substantially or materially to his death and if it resulted in debilitating effects that weakened his state.