Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during his service in the DMZ.

Service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. Service connection for left lower peripheral neuropathy, right lower peripheral neuropathy, and right lower peripheral vascular disease is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity disabilities have resulted in permanent loss of use of both feet, qualifying him for financial assistance to purchase an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for prostate cancer and Type II Diabetes Mellitus have been dismissed. The appeal regarding a higher rating for prostate cancer from prior to March 1, 2020 is remanded. The appeal regarding a higher rating for DM is also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic neuropathy is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the claims for heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient development of medical opinions.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper right extremity, lower left extremity, upper left extremity, and lower right extremity are all found to be due to his service-connected disabilities. The hypertension claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hypertension during the pendency of the claim or recent to its filing.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are determined to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death is attributed to pancreatic cancer, which the VA recognizes as possibly related to Agent Orange exposure. The appellant argues that his diabetes mellitus (DM2) may also be linked to this exposure. The Board has requested clarification from a medical examiner regarding whether the pancreatic cancer was due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's request to reopen his accrued benefits claim for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was granted. The other claims were denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted on a presumptive basis based on herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, hypertension and nephropathy, right leg diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left leg diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right arm diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and left arm diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to the promulgation of a Board decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are granted. The claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is remanded. The claim for service connection for hypothyroidism is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment since November 2011, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective May 7, 2013.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a heart disability. Service connection was granted for diabetes, presumed due to exposure to herbicides while stationed at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim has not met the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to his military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, chronic fatigue, back disability, rheumatoid arthritis, and skin lesions remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidentiary development regarding Operation Red Hat and herbicide exposure claims. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for DM, polymyalgia, and sleep apnea must be denied as there is no evidence of in-service disease or injury. The claims for left hip disability and right hip disability are remanded due to a lack of medical evidence showing current disabilities during the appeal period. The claim for service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tear is also remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU prior to October 27, 2020, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment before this date.