Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and needs further development regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DM) with diabetic nephropathy, including causation and aggravation of hypertension.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating based on regulation of activities or complications.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Korea.

The Veteran's PTSD and other service-connected conditions have not met the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his overall disability picture, which does not meet the specific eligibility requirements.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer, and a heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II were denied as the medical evidence showed these conditions were diagnosed prior to their respective claims, warranting a presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for type 1 diabetes, loss of pancreatic function secondary to diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to diabetes. The case is being returned to obtain a new VA opinion from an endocrinologist or other appropriate medical specialist.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted due to his fatal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and diabetes, presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and PTSD have been granted service connection. However, the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease is remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.,Service connection has been established for diabetes mellitus type II and PTSD. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease remains at a non-compensable rating, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to a lack of current diagnosis and because there was no actual disability diagnosed at any time since the claim was filed or contemporary to the filing of the claim. The presumptive provisions for herbicide exposure are not available as there is no diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim contesting the award of agent fees based on past-due benefits granted in a May 2021 rating decision is granted. The Board finds that there is no fee agreement of record between the Veteran and Agent J.P.D., providing for VA to collect fees and pay Agent J.P.D. directly out of past-due benefits awarded to the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as due to herbicide exposure. The low back disability remains at a 40% rating, with no change in the rating for neuropathy or erectile dysfunction. Right ear hearing loss and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a low back disability, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus secondary to CAD, chronic fatigue and joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to February 27, 2012 on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, COPD, and diabetes mellitus type 2 have all been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating in any of these cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, left shoulder arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since February 22, 2016. The Board finds that the combined effect of these disabilities has precluded his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Guam, which is a necessary step before determining service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and opinion regarding service connection for hypertension, which may be related to or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus type two.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II (previously rated as diabetes mellitus type II with nephropathy and retinopathy) is denied. The evidence does not show that the Veteran requires regulation of his activities due to diabetes, which would warrant a higher rating.