Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, and foot disabilities. The Veteran's STRs are unavailable, which may affect the adjudication of these claims.

The Board denied service connection for body cramps, diabetes mellitus, and Parkinson's disease due to lack of current diagnoses in the Veteran's VA medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine the etiology of his condition. A VA examination is needed to provide an opinion on whether his current diabetes is related to his military service, including exposure to jet fuel.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Type II diabetes mellitus (claimed as due to herbicide exposure), and a kidney disability (including tumor) due to potential errors in the audiometric evaluations and service connection determinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as stress attacks), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to chemical exposure, as there are insufficient medical opinions provided. The claims will be reviewed with new medical opinions considering the Veteran's exposure to sarin and cyclosarin gas.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to have been incurred during his active service in the Republic of Vietnam, and hypertension is presumed due to herbicide exposure. The kidney disability claim remains pending as it involves a secondary relationship.,Hypertension was granted based on the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022. The Veteran's stomach problems are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, as new evidence suggests a possible link between the condition and the Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The effective dates for right hip replacement and left hip replacement remain denied.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of dengue fever, a lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and TDIU prior to September 29, 2008 have all been denied.,The Board found that there was no current evidence of residuals from dengue fever or any other service-connected condition. The Veteran's low back disability was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period.

The Veteran's claims for respiratory, diabetes, prostate cancer, and colon cancer conditions are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or connection to service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD and hearing loss are denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to the date of receipt of his VA Form 21-526 EZ Fully Developed Claim on January 25, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus is also denied as he did not file a valid intent to file a claim prior to March 9, 2018. The claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss requires additional evidence and a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus is remanded as there is conflicting evidence regarding the treatment regimen required due to his diabetes. A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his diabetes and any associated complications.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for blurred eyesight requires a VA examination to determine if it is related to service or caused by his diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD requires a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition since his last examination in March 2019.,The Veteran's claim for prostate discomfort requires a VA examination to determine if it is related to service or caused by his diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims and service connection claims on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, due to insufficient compliance with its prior remand directives. The case is being returned for further development and an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for arthritis, hypertension, dizziness to include as secondary to hypertension, heart condition to include as secondary to hypertension, prostate cancer to include as due to asbestos and/or lead paint, lung condition to include as due to asbestos exposure, erectile dysfunction to include as secondary to medication for prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus type II to include as due to toxic exposure from a naval vessel is denied.,The Veteran's tinnitus, arthritis, hypertension, dizziness, heart condition, prostate cancer, lung condition, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted a higher rate of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions, which include generalized sarcoidosis with headaches, cardiomegaly associated with generalized sarcoidosis with headaches, bilateral diabetic retinopathy with macular edema and cataract, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, major depressive disorder, erectile dysfunction, and dermatitis. The Veteran is in receipt of a combined total evaluation for compensation of 100 percent from July 22, 2008.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to herbicide agents.,Service records did not show any diagnosis of these conditions during service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's duties were unrelated to areas where herbicide exposure was presumed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequacies in the VA examinations and other issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with nephropathy and erectile dysfunction required more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities prior to January 25, 2021. The Board has remanded the issues related to a respiratory disorder secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, respiratory disability, peripheral circulatory disorder, right lower extremity neurological impairment, and left lower extremity neurological impairment due to inextricably intertwined issues remaining on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and right knee disability due to missing records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes is reopened and granted. The claim for a neural disorder other than neuropathy of all four extremities, to include Parkinson's disease, is denied.