Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied. The Board found that the current conditions do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a heart disability, thyroid disability, diabetes mellitus, bone loss, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder. The Veteran will be provided an SSOC if their benefits are not granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to asbestos and insufficient medical evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons provided in a previous decision regarding service connection for a stroke, which is now considered secondary to diabetes. The Veteran's private neurologist opined that his stroke was related to diabetes, while the VA examiner disagreed. A new medical opinion is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's stroke.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's exposure to commercial herbicides is not considered, and a new etiology opinion is needed regarding whether his diabetes mellitus type II is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the July 2018 VA examination regarding the relationship between sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, as well as the Veteran's assertion that obesity caused by service-connected diabetes mellitus may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes and thyroid disability due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, with exposure to asbestos and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune as potential causes.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lower extremity diabetic ulcers has been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes, hypertension, left ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, and lumbar radiculopathy. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are etiologically related to active duty service.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy, to include hypertension, is rated at 100 percent since November 30, 2014. Special monthly compensation (SMC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is granted from the same date.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhagic pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hemorrhagic pancreatitis.

The Veteran's reflux condition is granted a separate 10 percent rating, but no greater. The Veteran does not have diabetic retinopathy or peripheral artery disease secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The Veteran’s restrictive lung disease is found not caused by his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Navy service in Vietnam. The condition was found to have manifested to a degree of at least 10% after separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes, lung cancer, and vision loss due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand or Vietnam. The development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral cataracts and diabetic retinopathy have been rated at 30 percent since November 18, 2019. The Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted.,An additional VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of diabetes mellitus and chronic renal insufficiency.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic retinopathy, and bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy as secondary to her service-connected major depressive disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for Type 2 diabetes mellitus and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria due to incomplete development. The VA examiner must provide a retrospective medical opinion addressing the severity of the Veteran's service-connected diabetes during the appellate period.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral plantar fasciitis, but has remanded the issues of diabetic foot ulcers and neuropathy, hammertoes, metatarsalgia, hallux valgus, and hallux rigidus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and impaired fasting glucose was granted. Service connection is also granted for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to determine his employability prior to March 8, 2017.