Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not directly related to service or secondary to his service-connected right hip post traumatic arthritis status post fracture and open reduction disabilities. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy of the right and left legs, both found to be due to herbicide exposure during active duty. The Veteran's current diagnoses are presumed based on his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of diabetes mellitus, and the Board dismissed the claim as a result.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and related benefits due to lack of evidence showing the Veteran's conditions arose within one year of his initial claim or prior to the effective date of the previous award.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of ratings for diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, left and right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, and right and left lower peripheral neuropathy from 100 percent to 40 percent, as well as the proposal to discontinue SMC at the housebound rate, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's diabetes was proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). As a result, the claim for service connection for diabetes secondary to OSA is granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings and service connection was granted, with a rating of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus with chronic kidney disease. The appellant is eligible to attorney fees in the amount of $1,727.28 from past-due benefits awarded in November 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is caused by his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (DM2) as there is no evidence that it was incurred in or caused by his military service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the claim for a separate, compensable disability rating for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes because the Veteran's diastolic blood pressure was not predominantly at 100 or more and his systolic pressure was not predominantly at 160 or more during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Type II diabetes mellitus is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection and a compensable rating for various conditions due to the appellant's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of an earlier effective date for service connection due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that there was no evidence to support exposure to herbicide agents during service and thus denying service connection on a presumptive basis. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish direct or secondary service connection for any conditions contributing to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for angle-closure glaucoma as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied, while his claim for service connection for hypothyroidism disability to include hypothyroidism is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, chloracne, and soft tissue carcinoma are all granted as they are presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during his active duty.

The Board has dismissed all the issues related to service connection and increased disability ratings due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney stones, including residual(s) of kidney stones, was not reopened due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was not reopened due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of VA-recognized hearing loss during the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's claim for type II diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a current psychiatric disability at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.