Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has granted the Appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his PTSD with alcohol use disorder caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and myelodysplastic syndrome were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other causative factors.

The Board has denied service connection for pre-diabetes and remanded the issues of service connection for a heart condition and sinus bradycardia to obtain updated medical records and determine if there is a current diagnosis and etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is service-connected due to exposure to herbicides at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The evidence is in equipoise regarding this exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, heart disability, liver disability, and diabetes mellitus type II due to lack of nexus opinions regarding his active service. The Veteran is also requested to provide an assessment of his level of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to new and relevant evidence. The claim for ischemic heart disease is remanded as there was a pre-decisional error in obtaining an examination without a nexus opinion on whether a heart disorder is related to non-herbicide chemical exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety and mood swings, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, heart disorder, erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis and rhinitis, right eye cataracts, left eye cataracts, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Board found no in-service psychological injury or event leading to the current disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective January 18, 2013, based on his service-connected disabilities. The effective date is the earliest date that the claim for a TDIU arose, which was less than one year prior to receipt of the February 2013 application.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and bone spurs, bilateral feet/ankles have been granted. The decision on the hypertension claim is remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumptively related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. The initial compensable rating for bladder cancer is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as the Veteran died during their pendency.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as there was no current diagnosis in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of March 23, 2023. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy are all granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The exposure is presumed based on herbicide agent exposure in Thailand.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his cause of death, specifically related to herbicide exposure. The claim will be reconsidered with this information.

The Veteran's CAD rating was restored to 60 percent effective October 1, 2023.,A disability rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is granted.,A disability rating higher than 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is denied.,A disability rating higher than 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is denied.

The claims for service connection for bilateral claw foot, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as general anxiety and dysthymic disorder), diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, right knee replacement, and strokes have all been dismissed.,The Veteran's right knee disability was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral diabetic lower extremity peripheral neuropathies have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and he is granted TDIU effective October 12, 2016. He also meets the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) during that period. The Veteran is also eligible for DEA benefits effective October 12, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and migraine headaches has been remanded due to the need for additional development.,For major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent from July 8, 2020.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2. The rating for nephrolithiasis and ureterolithiasis remains remanded.