Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure in the Korean DMZ. Service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied as it is not related to the service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's increased stipend in the PCAFC is granted due to his need for personal care services each time he completes at least three ADLs and is fully dependent on a caregiver, based on his service-connected conditions and documented medical problems.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right upper and lower extremities is granted. For the period prior to June 22, 2019, a rating in excess of 20 percent for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, residuals of adrenal cancer, and coronary artery disease with myopathy status post coronary artery bypass graft. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to environmental hazards that included jet fuel, Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), and Trichlorofluoromethane.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome in the right upper extremity, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the left lower and right lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome in the left upper extremity, and coronary artery disease (CAD), have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The Board is unable to proceed with a decision on these matters at this time.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and the cause of the Veteran's death as they were not shown to be related to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating were dismissed as he withdrew his claims in writing before the Board made a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions provided by a private clinician. The VA will need to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the service-connected PTSD or OSA caused or aggravated the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes.

The Veteran's lung cancer and diabetes mellitus type II are granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for carcinoma of the head and neck is remanded as there is a possible nexus with herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy. The issues are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the issues of increased rating for left-sided Bell's palsy and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's pes planus was granted a 50% rating prior to September 22, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and granted TDIU.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service connected due to onset during ACDUTRA. The Veteran's hypertension is denied as not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain relevant medical records from Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, as well as Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The issues of diabetes mellitus, type II and an eye/vision disability are also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, including diabetes and its complications. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence, specifically a need for a new examination to determine the current severity of service-connected eye disabilities and whether any additional eye disability is related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted.,The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, diagnosed as coronary artery disease, is presumed to be due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent (Agent Orange) and is granted.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to be due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent (Agent Orange) and is granted.,The Veteran's skin cancer is related to his military service and is granted.

The Board has found that the development conducted does not adequately comply with the September 2021 Board remand directives and thus, the case is being returned to the AOJ for further development regarding the Veteran's reported exposure to herbicides while stationed at Howard and Albrook Air Force Bases in Panama.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and bilateral eye condition due to a lack of records from RAF Upper Heyford, England for the period January 1, 1973, to December 31, 1973. The VA will seek these records and provide a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.