Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board found that there was no exposure to herbicides or other chemicals during service that could be linked to the development of CAD and DM.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and low back disability due to potential service connection based on exposure to herbicides, as well as a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence being added since the last decision, and the appellant is proceeding pro se.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy of both eyes is currently rated at 40 percent from June 3, 2014. The Board has remanded the issue for further development to obtain outstanding VA medical records, reschedule an eye examination, and determine if a separate compensable rating is warranted for bilateral diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but has remanded his claims for hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction due to potential exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's heart condition, caused by service-connected hypertension, is granted. The Veteran's right lower extremity neuropathy is granted a 20% rating. The Veteran's left lower extremity neuropathy prior to November 11, 2022, and as of that date, are both granted a 20% rating. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The VA examiner needs to provide a comprehensive rationale for their opinions on causation and aggravation.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, a skin and nail condition of the feet, and diabetes mellitus as they were withdrawn by the Veteran through clear written notice.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 28, 2006, for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 60 percent, which is less than the required 70 percent under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of diabetes mellitus type 2 and congestive heart failure and hypertensive heart disease, finding that the criteria for an earlier effective date were not met under any theory of entitlement.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service, which is a key factor in determining whether he qualifies for presumptive service connection under the Agent Orange Act. The Veteran was previously denied based on lack of evidence of exposure, but new information may now support his claim.

The Veteran's hemodynamic renal dysfunction is found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected diabetes and hypertension, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for OSA, DM, and left hallux valgus deformity due to their potential secondary relationship with the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The issues are being remanded for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents is granted. However, the Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, Parkinson's Disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to incomplete VA treatment records and insufficient opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further investigation regarding potential exposure to herbicides during service, specifically while serving aboard the USS Iwo Jima or USS Okinawa in 1967 and 1968. The Veteran's claims for Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has determined that the remand directives were not substantially complied with and the diabetes claim must be addressed again. The peripheral neuropathy claims are also inextricably intertwined and will be remanded along with the diabetes claim.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with previous remand instructions and another remanded is necessary due to the lack of a copy of the explanation of benefits (EOB) for the Veteran's June 10, 2009 treatment at Kaiser Permanente. The AOJ needs to obtain this EOB or provide an explanation if it cannot be obtained.

The Veteran was granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease (claimed as heart disease) based on herbicide agent exposure in Thailand.,Effective dates were set at February 14, 2003, for the grants of service connection.