{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/diabetes-mellitus","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:17.547Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Diabetes mellitus","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":30088,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":20.2,"denied_pct":38,"remanded_pct":40.4,"granted_on_merits_pct":34.8,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":2022,"granted_pct":12.1,"denied_pct":50.4,"remanded_pct":32.8},{"year":2018,"issues":3597,"granted_pct":15.2,"denied_pct":45.5,"remanded_pct":35.6},{"year":2019,"issues":3906,"granted_pct":18.3,"denied_pct":38.6,"remanded_pct":40.9},{"year":2020,"issues":3844,"granted_pct":19,"denied_pct":37.7,"remanded_pct":41.6},{"year":2021,"issues":3185,"granted_pct":19.1,"denied_pct":37.6,"remanded_pct":41.7},{"year":2022,"issues":3431,"granted_pct":23.7,"denied_pct":32.4,"remanded_pct":41.8},{"year":2023,"issues":3565,"granted_pct":22.2,"denied_pct":33.3,"remanded_pct":42.6},{"year":2024,"issues":3082,"granted_pct":24.6,"denied_pct":32.5,"remanded_pct":41.8},{"year":2025,"issues":2883,"granted_pct":21.3,"denied_pct":37.2,"remanded_pct":39.8},{"year":2026,"issues":1097,"granted_pct":26.5,"denied_pct":35.6,"remanded_pct":36.6}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":72.2,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":3050,"granted_pct_with":50.9,"granted_pct_without":32.4},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":17709,"granted_pct_with":25,"granted_pct_without":53.3},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":4046,"granted_pct_with":58.4,"granted_pct_without":30.1},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":11510,"granted_pct_with":25.6,"granted_pct_without":41},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":8400,"granted_pct_with":39.9,"granted_pct_without":32.3},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":1628,"granted_pct_with":46.9,"granted_pct_without":33.9},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":23169,"granted_pct_with":33.8,"granted_pct_without":38.9},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":1197,"granted_pct_with":64.1,"granted_pct_without":33.3},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":1633,"granted_pct_with":43.3,"granted_pct_without":34.2}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":1028},{"reason":"veteran served in thailand during vietnam era","decisions":206},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":128},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":113},{"reason":"presumed exposure to herbicide agents","decisions":96},{"reason":"presumption of herbicide exposure applies","decisions":59}],"denied":[{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":1186},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":1183},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":806},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":559},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":516},{"reason":"no continuity of symptomatology","decisions":478}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"26005121","year":2026,"judge":"M. TENNER","rationale":"Secondary to service-connected chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, and/or hypogonadism; 38 C.F.R. § 3.310 criteria met"},{"case_id":"A26040471","year":2026,"judge":"M. C. GRAHAM","rationale":"Private opinion found PTSD contributed to metabolic dysfunction.; Conflicting opinions between VA and private examiners.; Benefit of the doubt resolved in Veteran's favor."},{"case_id":"A26040527","year":2026,"judge":"P.M. DILORENZO","rationale":"Service-connected disabilities aggravated obesity; Obesity was substantial factor in causing diabetes; Diabetes would not have occurred but for obesity"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26040464","year":2026,"judge":"JENNIFER WHITE","rationale":"No established in-service event (herbicide exposure); Service treatment records negative for diabetes; No VA examination required due to lack of in-service event"},{"case_id":"26005112","year":2026,"judge":"MICHELLE L. KANE","rationale":"No evidence of herbicide exposure in Taiwan.; No evidence of radiation exposure.; Condition did not onset during service or within one year of separation.; No continuity of symptoms from service to diagnosis."},{"case_id":"A26040483","year":2026,"judge":"LESLEY A. REIN","rationale":"No in-service complaints or diagnosis in STRs; DMII not presumptive for Camp Lejeune TERA; June 2025 VA opinion found DMII less likely than not caused by TERA; Morbid obesity assessed as likely cause of DMII"}]},"how_va_rates":{"citation":"38 CFR 4.119","diagnostic_code":"7913","name":"Diabetes mellitus","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.119","levels":[{"criteria":"Requiring more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities) with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus either progressive loss of weight and strength or complications that would be compensable if separately evaluated","rating":100},{"criteria":"Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated","rating":60},{"criteria":"Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities","rating":40},{"criteria":"Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin and restricted diet, or; oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet","rating":20},{"criteria":"Manageable by restricted diet only","rating":10}],"notes":["Note (1): Evaluate compensable complications of diabetes separately unless they are part of the criteria used to support a 100-percent evaluation. Noncompensable complications are considered part of the diabetic process under DC 7913.","Note (2): When diabetes mellitus has been conclusively diagnosed, do not request a glucose tolerance test solely for rating purposes."]},"rules":[{"citation":"38 CFR 4.119","title":"Schedule of ratings: endocrine system","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.119"},{"citation":"38 CFR 3.309(e)","title":"Presumptive service connection (herbicide exposure)","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-3.309"},{"citation":"M21-1 V.iii.11.1","title":"Diabetes: evaluation, scope of the claim, effective dates","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000180518/M21-1-Part-V-Subpart-iii-Chapter-11-Endocrine-Conditions"},{"citation":"M21-1 V.iii.11.2","title":"Complications of diabetes and when to rate them separately","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000180518/M21-1-Part-V-Subpart-iii-Chapter-11-Endocrine-Conditions"}]}}