Diabetes Board decisions

Service connection for type 2 diabetes is granted as the Veteran served near the DMZ in Korea and was exposed to herbicide agents, presumptively related to his condition.,Service connection for lichen simplex chronicus and vitiligo is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions and the effective date of a right lower extremity radiculopathy award. The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, renal cell carcinoma, and a skin disability are also remanded due to potential herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence and a need for further development. The examiner is requested to consider obesity as an intermediate step in determining if the Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his diabetes mellitus or other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability.,VA treatment or medical care did not cause the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the issues of initial rating for mixed anxiety depressive disorder and TDIU.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his work and education background, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The claim for hypertension secondary to these conditions is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in service, specifically in Okinawa between August 1965 and July 1966, and on Guam or American Samoa during his assignments with the Fleet Marine Force.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to the assigned effective dates. The cases have been REMANDED for further development and examination.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a higher rating for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataracts, a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to TDIU. These matters are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. Service connection was denied for right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection based on direct evidence. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, which is currently rated at 20 percent, remains denied.,The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus type 2 and diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities was denied.,For the period prior to February 18, 2021, an initial rating of 40 percent for right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy of the median and ulnar nerves was granted. For the entire appeal period, a higher rating than 40 percent for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and erectile dysfunction prior to September 5, 2018 is rated at 20 percent. The separate compensable disability rating for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus and small cell lymphoproliferative disorder for further development to address whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected hepatitis C.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left lower extremity disability is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension are remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding the presence of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, prostate cancer, and hypertension. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is not service-connected and is not related to his service-connected pancreatitis.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not service-connected and is not related to his service-connected pancreatitis.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and eye condition are not service-connected and are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,There is no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and any other diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any gainful employment consistent with his education and experience.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a hip disability, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine with lumbosacral strain.,Service connection was also granted for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine with lumbosacral strain.