Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, prostate disability, and peripheral neuropathy due to toxic exposure. The Veteran's diabetes is not related to military service, according to a recent opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet his burden of establishing an inability to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, an acquired respiratory condition, and diabetes mellitus type II due to potential service connection based on in-service exposure. The Veteran's reported incidents aboard USS Hornet are to be verified, a VA examination is needed for his respiratory condition, and a VA medical opinion is required regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the April 2021 VA examination is inadequate and requires a new examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including whether his migraines and associated medications caused or aggravated his obesity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy has been granted. The issue of service connection for an eye disability other than diabetic retinopathy (glaucoma and cataracts) is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was received after the July 2019 Statement of the Case and has not been considered by the AOJ. The case is being remanded to allow for a supplemental statement of the case and consideration of this new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused her obesity, which in turn led to her current diabetes. As a result, the Board has granted service connection for diabetes on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee fragmentation wound scar is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of a right knee scar is related to his active military service, specifically an in-service shrapnel wound during his tour in Vietnam. For other issues, including increased ratings for various disabilities and renal insufficiency prior to December 14, 2020, the decision remains pending as these are not final decisions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypogonadism, finding that there is no evidence to support a secondary relationship between these conditions and his service-connected disabilities. The case has been remanded for further examination regarding the endocrine disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, recurrent skin disability to include dermatitis and eczema, hypertension, and a recurrent disability manifested by weight loss are all denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other presumptive conditions. The diagnoses were not shown during active service or within many years thereafter.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Type II diabetes mellitus is granted. The claims for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as hypertension are remanded due to the need for further examination and evidence collection.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, carpal tunnel syndromes, sebaceous cyst, left hand joint pain, gallstones, and knee, shoulder, elbow, and wrist disorders. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service or exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, head tremors, trembling hands, and restless leg syndrome were denied as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 15, 2018; rather his nonservice-connected disabilities contributed to his unemployability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded issues related to heart conditions, acquired psychiatric disorders (including depression), hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and chloracne, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and presumed herbicide exposure during his military service. The claims for a lumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, and skin disorders other than chloracne have been remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of diabetes mellitus, type 2; bilateral eye disability; left knee disability (reopened); kidney disability; peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities; erectile dysfunction; prostate disability; and lower back disability are still pending. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The issues of diabetes mellitus, type II; thyroid cancer, status post thyroidectomy; bowel disorder; intestinal condition; arthritis of the back; arthritis of the left foot; arthritis of the right foot; bone spurs of the right foot; and bone spurs of the left foot are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension have been dismissed due to withdrawal. The remaining issues of PTSD, Erectile Dysfunction, Right Hip Disability, Left Hip Disability, Bilateral Retinopathy, and Lumbosacral Strain are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, urinary incontinence, sinusitis, left hip arthritis, and right hip arthritis. The reasons provided include lack of evidence linking the current disabilities to service or service-connected conditions.