Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, diabetes, IBS, and a genitourinary disability are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain VA opinions regarding herbicide exposure and its relation to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, Type II, as these conditions are presumed to be due to the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2 contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, and right upper leg neuropathy due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records do not indicate any exposure to herbicide agents or other potential causative factors.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was implicitly denied in the January 2010 and July 2011 rating decisions due to the relatedness of his diabetes and PTSD claims, which were part of the same appeal process. The effective date for any future TDIU determination would be fixed based on when an increase in disability is shown to have occurred.

The Board has determined that there are incomplete service treatment records and a need for clarification of the Veteran's periods of active duty, inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), and active duty for training (ACDUTRA). As such, these issues are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The decision is based on evidence showing a causal relationship between the Veteran's diabetes and his treatment for his service-connected low back condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and requests for additional information from private providers.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for hernia, testicular disorder (epididymitis), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or chronic kidney disease. The issues of service connection for these conditions are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further development.

Effective January 31, 2012, the Veteran was granted a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment before September 22, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding that he does not have a current disability of diabetes and that his A1C levels never met the criteria for a clinical diagnosis of diabetes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, requiring insulin and restricted diet, is granted a disability rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's right hip disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease, is granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected right patellar tendon disability. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension are denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer and arteriosclerotic heart disease are granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during service in the territorial waters of Guam. The effective date is August 10, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's need for aid and attendance, loss of use of feet and/or lower extremities, and whether his service-connected disabilities alone caused these issues. Additional VA treatment records are needed, as well as an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various peripheral neuropathy conditions and a kidney condition as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II due to a lack of contemporaneous medical examinations and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his obesity, which in turn led to the development of diabetes mellitus. The Board granted a TDIU from August 15, 2014 to September 14, 2015 and an evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD from June 13, 2019 to April 22, 2023.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling an examination for housebound status or permanent need for regular aid and attendance, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and clarifying diagnoses. The gastrointestinal disability issue remains on appeal as service connection was granted for gastric ulcers in a December 2023 rating decision.