Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is the 9th most prevalent service-connected disability. Did you develop type 2 diabetes after service? Do you feel it is service connected? You may be entitled to disability benefits!
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes, also known as type 2 diabetes mellitus, is a condition where your body’s cells resist the normal effect of insulin and thus glucose starts to build up in the blood. Because of the increase of glucose, the pancreas creates extra insulin, overtime the pancreas loses the ability to keep up with the demand for insulin. Symptoms include blurry vision, excessive thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, hunger, and weight loss.
Service-connection
There are two ways to connect your type 2 diabetes. The first, is through a presumptive service connection. Type 2 diabetes is included in the Agent Orange presumption. A veteran is eligible for the Agent Orange presumption if she served from 1962-1975 in Vietnam, or in Thailand as a dog handler or police, or in the Korean Demilitarized zone between 4/1/68 and 5/7/75. Thus if you qualify for the Agent Orange presumption and have type 2 diabetes then you’ll be presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange and thus it will be service connected. On the other hand, if you are not eligible for the Agent Orange presumption, you’ll need to prove why you think your diabetes was service connected.
Rating
The severity can widely vary. Rating is dependent upon the severity, to see what rating best matches your symptoms see the chart below.
| Level 5 | 100% | -Require insulin injections more than 1x per day -Must remain on a restricted diet -Need to regulate their activity (ex: avoiding strenuous occupational activities) -Hospitalized 3 or more x per year OR require weekly visits to a diabetic care provider due to hypoglycemic reactions or episodes of ketoacidosis -Experiencing progressive weight loss or strength reduction OR complications that would be compensable if separately evaluated |
| Level 4 | 60% | -Need one or more injections of insulin daily -Require a restricted diet -Require regulated activity -Experience hypoglycemic reactions or episodes of ketoacidosis that render them hospitalized once or twice per year, or warrant twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider -Suffering complications not compensable if evaluated separately |
| Level 3 | 40% | -Need one or more insulin injection(s) daily -Require a restricted diet -Require regulated activity |
| Level 2 | 20% | -Require insulin injections one or more times daily -Require a restricted diet OR need to take an oral hypoglycemic agent while also remaining on a restricted diet |
| Level 1 | 10% | -Ratings are awarded if the veteran can manage their blood sugar levels using only a restricted diet |
Veterans Help Group have been winning the benefits veterans deserve since 1995, if the VA wrongly denied your type two diabetes claim, contact us today – call or chat with us online.
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