Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type 2, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents was not established based on his military duties as an Aircraft Maintenance Specialist. The claims were decided on a direct basis without any presumption of service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, both secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, have been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, and lung cancer due to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection is denied for left lower extremity, right lower extremity, left upper extremity, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within a year following service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and evidence. The issues of neck disability, radiculopathy in both lower extremities, diabetes mellitus secondary to weight gain, and depression are being remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DM, and diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 25, 2020. The effective date for TDIU is granted as of that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Blurred Vision Cataract as secondary to Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Lower Extremity, and Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Lower Extremity is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hypertension is also granted due to the PACT Act.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness as secondary to Diabetes Mellitus Type II is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 16, 2016 for entitlement to TDIU and basic eligibility to DEA due to lack of factual ascertainability of increase in disability warranting these benefits between March 2, 2015 and February 15, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to toxic exposure, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and prostate cancer. The VA will obtain medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to exposure to toxins during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma due to Agent Orange exposure. The case requires additional development including obtaining an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) and VA treatment records from VistA Imaging.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports readjudicating the claims for service connection of diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. The Veteran's assertions include a claim related to an in-service malaria illness, which may be related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II and its associated erectile dysfunction, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the creative organ are granted with effective dates of February 7, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 11, 2023. The Board granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of proper consideration of his exposure to radiation during service. The AOJ is instructed to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a hearing and forward all relevant documents, including a July 2013 memo about ionizing radiation exposure at Fort Bliss, to the VA Under Secretary for Health for a dose estimate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and obstructive sleep apnea due to potential errors in the duty to assist. The AOJ must obtain missing service records, determine if the Veteran was involved in a TERA during his active service, and provide medical opinions regarding the nature of the disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 31, 2022 for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II. The decision is based on the receipt of a claim after the last final denial in September 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and associated polyneuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes and ischemic heart disease due to a lack of consideration of certain evidence, including ship logs from the USS Canisteo. A VA opinion is needed regarding the combined effect of toxic exposure during service on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and clarifying the Veteran's work history.