Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's death was caused by VA negligence in administering potassium, resulting in aspiration and pneumonia. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise and granted DIC benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral eye condition (cataracts) have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any other basis for service connection.

The Board has restored service connection for Diabetes Mellitus with Erectile Dysfunction and Ischemic Heart Disease, finding the prior severance decision was improper due to incorrect exposure information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are likely to prevent him from securing and maintaining gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. The claims for increased ratings in various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic neuropathy is remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to Agent Orange during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the September 2010 decision.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes was not shown as chronic in service or within one year following separation from service. The Board also found that the Veteran's diabetes is less likely than not caused by his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service connection claim for BPH was denied. For the initial rating period prior to November 3, 2014, his right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy were each rated at 10%. Beginning November 3, 2014, a 20% rating was granted for both conditions. A TDIU was granted effective April 18, 2014.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete or inaccurate factual premises in previous VA opinions. The Veteran's claims for throat disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, and a disorder characterized by trembling and tingling of the fingers are being returned to the AOJ for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to active duty. The Veteran's hypertension is already service-connected, so any new findings on these conditions will be considered in conjunction with his existing condition.

For the initial rating period from March 31, 2008 to November 24, 2010, a disability rating higher than 10 percent for diabetes mellitus was denied.,From November 24, 2010 onwards, a disability rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus was denied.,For the initial rating period from March 31, 2008 to September 6, 2016, a disability rating higher than 20 percent for left upper extremity (LUE) peripheral neuropathy and right upper extremity (RUE) peripheral neuropathy was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, shoulder injury, and diabetes prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation between December 20, 2002, and March 27, 2007. The Board granted Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) effective as of March 27, 2007.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hernia of the abdomen and groin, diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral arthritis of the knees and arms due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran will need additional VA examinations to address his service connection claims.

The Veteran's chronic mechanical lumbar spine syndrome with left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to February 19, 2013, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder (coronary artery disease) and diabetes mellitus II are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to evaluate whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, colon polyps, hypertension (HTN), erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus (DM). The remand is due to verify whether the U.S.S. Theodore E. Chandler sailed within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam or within the waters outlined in 38 U.S.C. § 1116A while the Veteran was aboard.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataracts are rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from June 9, 2009 through March 28, 2018 is granted.

The Board denied service connection for chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral eye disability, and heart disability. The disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active duty or training.

The Veteran's left lower extremity atherosclerotic arterial occlusive disease was not found to meet the criteria for an increased rating from May 17, 2011 until February 8, 2021 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU was denied from May 17, 2011 until September 29, 2014 and granted from May 14, 2020.