Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service-connected left tibia/fibula stress fracture with shin splints and left heel spur.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on five separate conditions (diabetes mellitus, type II; low back disability; right knee disability; left knee disability; and sleep apnea) have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for left hand frostbite residuals, right hand frostbite residuals, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted. The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and right foot gangrene status post trans tibial amputation are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence had been received and reconsidered the claims but confirmed and continued the previous denials. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and GERD are remanded for additional development to address pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and sleep apnea as secondary to her service-connected PTSD, lumbosacral strain, and left knee disabilities with obesity as an intermediate step. The case requires further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding proposed reductions in SMC and rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease, as well as the appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's diabetes does not require regulation of activities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are not rated higher than the current levels due to lack of evidence supporting more severe disability.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer residuals, and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 15, 2017, and March 5, 2018, for service connection were denied as the submitted evidence did not relate to any disputed elements of his claims.,The Board found that the submitted records from January 2019 did not address an element in dispute or affect the outcome of the case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and emphysema due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA examiner is requested to review the Veteran's STRs, lay statements, and provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that his COPD and emphysema had its onset during or is otherwise related to in-service bronchitis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding service connection for diabetes, duodenal ulcer, hearing loss, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder and arm, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and cataracts disabilities are being remanded for additional development to address the adequacy of the medical opinions provided.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current lumbar spine, cervical spine, right shoulder and arm, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and cataracts disabilities. The claims are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining adequate medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DM-II with ED and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, status post CABG, are denied as the evidence does not support the need for higher disability ratings.

The Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for such an increase.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted service connection. The cause of the Veteran's death, including his diabetes, is also granted service connection. However, the lung disability claim (claimed as bronchitis) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's cause of death, including acute lymphoma, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, is granted as a result of presumed exposure to toxins during service in the Southwest Asia theater. Service connection for these conditions is granted due to the PACT Act.

Service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus is granted effective August 10, 2022. Service connection for neuropathy of the lower extremities remains pending.