Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and related peripheral neuropathy are granted as presumptively caused by his service in the Republic of Vietnam, where he was exposed to herbicide agents.

The Board has denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the back, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension as they are not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, heart condition, hypertension, and respiratory condition due to potential in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or JP4 jet fuel. The Veteran's service records indicate he worked on aircraft during his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, which was previously denied due to lack of herbicide exposure evidence, has been reopened and granted based on presumed exposure during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since December 11, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not require regulation of activities to control his diabetes and thus could not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under DC 7913. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted as he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and whether service-connected conditions contributed or aggravated the Veteran's death. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was attributed to coronary atherosclerosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for hypertension and erectile dysfunction. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an examination and provide opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure is denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding environmental exposure and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diabetes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus II is rated at 20 percent, and the effective date for left upper extremity diabetic neuropathy has been granted as February 26, 2020.,PTSD remains rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or incurred in service, including as a result of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, headaches, and blurred vision as these conditions are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to be due to his in-service herbicide agent exposure during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development on the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and left lower extremity disability. The claim for a higher rating for back disability prior to March 6, 2019, remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to procedural issues related to the opt-in process and the implementation of the Modernized Appeals System (AMA).

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's service aboard the USS Porterfield.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding service connection for residuals of a stroke. The Veteran contends his stroke is related to herbicide exposure or secondary to his CAD, but the VA examiner found no direct link and opined that risk factors like obesity, diet, genetics, etc., are more likely causes.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided do not adequately comply with the July 2020 Board remand directives. The Veteran is therefore required to undergo additional evaluations for his psychiatric, respiratory, skin, eye, kidney, ED, DM, and hypertension disabilities.