Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 8, 2017, for the grant of a 60 percent rating for his left knee injury s/p total knee replacement is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 8, 2017, for the grant of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, heart disability (coronary artery disease), and hypertension are granted as they are presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's PDD is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's Diabetes Mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent and no higher.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes type II and bilateral neuropathy of the lower extremities, as both conditions are related to his exposure to PFAS during active duty. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence confirming the Veteran's exposure to PFAS and to provide a VA examination to determine if his diabetes type II originated during or is etiologically related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributing to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of SMC aid and attendance based on need for regular aid and attendance from October 19, 2021. The Veteran's VA treatment records showed he was not permanently bedridden or so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance prior to October 19, 2021.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service. The cause of death claim will be remanded for readjudication in light of the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's death was caused by sarcoidosis, blastomycosis, and diabetes mellitus. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand, which contributed to his diabetes mellitus. As a result, the Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the claim for a TDIU from July 19, 2023 due to the grant of a combined 100 percent rating and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The appeal for a TDIU prior to July 19, 2023 is remanded as it may be eligible for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions, including diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, and hyperlipidemia. The Board found that these conditions were not service-connected.,The appellant sought service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his service, but provided no specific evidence supporting this claim.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to service connection for ED secondary to service-connected CAD and DM due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA medical opinions obtained were inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's ED was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, nor did they consider the potential aggravation of ED by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he is not entitled to an increased level of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance, given his current service-connected disabilities and existing levels of SMC.

The Board has granted service connection for a left wrist condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and prostate cancer. The conditions are related to the Veteran's exposure to toxic environmental exposures during his active duty service as a Fuel Specialist.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective June 30, 2017. The Board found that the increase in disability caused by his service-connected conditions made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of this date.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of entitlement to service connection for ED secondary to service-connected CAD and DM due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA medical opinions obtained were inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's ED was caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, nor did they consider the potential aggravation of ED by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide exposure is granted, effective March 30, 2011.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for squamous cell various, skin cancer due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus type II based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for coronary artery disease (CAD) with atrial fibrillation based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for hypertension based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for lymphoma based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for renal adenocarcinoma with renal insufficiency based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are also granted as secondary to the service-connected conditions.