Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease are granted as directly related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service.,The Veteran's hypertensive cardiovascular disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, incontinence, and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate examinations that did not consider his reports of service exposure.

The Veteran is granted an annual VA clothing allowance for 2013 due to a knee brace prescribed for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy.,The Veteran's hand braces do not cause wear and tear to his clothing, thus denying the claim for a clothing allowance in 2013.,No service-connected back disability or skin condition was found to warrant a clothing allowance for a back brace or topical creams. The claims are denied.,Entitlement is granted for use of ammonium lactate cream as it does not cause wear and tear on the Veteran's clothing.,The Veteran's use of menthol/methyl salicylate is not for a service-connected skin condition, thus denying the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities due to a lack of current disability diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes and hypertension for further development, including VA examinations to determine their etiology.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is not service-connected, but has ordered further development to address whether her obesity and any related medications caused or aggravated her diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, a heart disorder, renal dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction as the Veteran's duties at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base did not place him on or near the base perimeter and he was not otherwise exposed to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his TDY periods at the U-Tapao RTAFB.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type 2 and tremors need further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, as well as his request for an effective date prior to August 8, 2018, for SMC based on housebound status. The criteria for a higher rating were not met in any of these cases.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, prostate cancer, urinary bladder cancer, and erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange due to new evidence added since the March 2020 SOC.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by a disability incurred or aggravated during active military service, and the Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for GERD, stomach disorder, and OSA have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,Service connection for OSA was denied because there is no persuasive evidence that it began during service or is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet the schedular criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 13, 2020. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various diabetes-related conditions have been denied. The earliest date of receipt of the claim is February 9, 2009.,The Veteran also had a claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for chronic ischemic heart disease due to his diabetes, which was granted on March 12, 2010.

The Veteran's cause of death, adenocarcinoma of the gall bladder Stage IV, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities and diabetes mellitus, type II due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, with retinopathy of both eyes, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and skin abnormality was denied. The criteria for a higher rating were not met prior to August 25, 2021, and as of that date, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 60 percent or higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus, an effective date prior to December 6, 2014 for the grant of a 50 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus, and nonservice-connected pension have been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received for sleep apnea, right ankle arthritis, and left ankle arthritis. The claims are being remanded for further evaluation.