Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were evaluated, with the majority of issues related to increased ratings for these conditions. The appeal was denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for bronchial asthma, a skin disease characterized as a fully body rash, type II diabetes mellitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to the lack of evidence supporting herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, type 2, a back and/or cervical spine disorder, hypertension, and a right knee disorder due to various procedural issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, right ear hearing loss, and back condition have been granted service connection. The decision is mixed as some issues are granted while others remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for Type 2 diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide exposure, which is a presumption under the PACT Act. The Veteran's service in Guam from 1972 to 1973 provides the necessary presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking increased disability ratings, service connection for diabetes mellitus type II secondary to AML, and TDIU.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has not required regulation of activities at any point during the appeal period, and therefore a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim is dismissed as the effective date of his grant has already been established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met the schedular rating requirements and rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 13, 2022, through April 16, 2023. Beginning April 17, 2023, when his combined rating went into effect at 100%, no individual service-connected disability rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue regarding service connection for Stevens-Johnson syndrome has been dismissed due to his withdrawal. The other issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease are granted as they were incurred during his service in Vietnam.

The Board has found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not have its onset during active service or within one year of discharge, and is not causally related to any disease, injury, or event during active service. Service connection for cardiomegaly and bilateral lower extremity circulation disorder are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is granted as a matter of law.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 100 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase within one year prior to September 16, 2021. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate was dismissed as moot due to the grant of SMC in the December 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremity (sciatic nerve) alone supports a TDIU, and his combined rating exceeds 60 percent without this condition. Therefore, SMC based on a single service-connected disability rated as total is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to herbicide agent exposure, as there is insufficient information to verify his alleged in-service exposure in Guam. The pleural effusion claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the coronary artery disease claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to a failure to obtain relevant VA treatment records from Dr. P.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CLL, diabetes mellitus, and related conditions were denied in a final September 2008 decision. The appellant is seeking earlier effective dates for these grants of service connection on the basis of substitution.,The claim for hypertension was granted based on the PACT Act, which added hypertension to the list of diseases presumptively associated with herbicide agent exposure. The effective date for this grant is August 10, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during active duty in the Republic of Vietnam. The effective date is not specified as it was based on the PACT Act which is inapplicable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 is being remanded due to a predecisional duty to assist error and the need to verify his in-service herbicide exposure. If verified, he will be scheduled for a TERA examination to determine if there is a nexus between his diabetes and his in-service herbicide exposure.