Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and a need for further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction due to conflicting VA records regarding herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's claim will be further developed to clarify his exposure history.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and her military service, including exposure at Fort McClellan. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether each condition had its onset in service or is related to such exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has found that additional relevant evidence has been added to the claims file and has remanded the case for readjudication by the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to diabetes mellitus, type II, being a contributory cause of his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are granted as presumptively related to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Guam, effective October 1, 2022.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted as presumptively related to his service in Thailand due to herbicide exposure, and the effective date of this decision is August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy and other related conditions like bilateral end stage glaucoma, bilateral optic nerve atrophy, right nuclear cataract, and left pseudophakia, are being remanded for further evaluation due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been granted. The claim for aortic regurgitation/murmur is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and benefits related to his service-connected coronary artery disease and type two diabetes mellitus are remanded due to the need for additional development of private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and associated peripheral neuropathy was granted effective December 17, 2019. The decision also grants the same effective date for the secondary service-connected peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating more than 20 percent for right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy prior to August 30, 2012; awarded a 40 percent rating for the right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy from August 30, 2012 and denied a rating more than 40 percent from that date; denied a rating more than 10 percent for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy prior to January 23, 2012; and denied a rating more than 20 percent for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy from January 23, 2012.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a 100% schedular rating for PTSD and SMC benefits at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's kidney cysts are granted service connection, but his claims for kidney stones and kidney disease as well as diabetes mellitus are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities required him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance (A&A) from February 7, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus and neuropathy with voiding dysfunction was denied. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent, while his neuropathy with voiding dysfunction met the criteria for a 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as there is no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.