Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete information regarding his unit location and the need to send the Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) to the correct address.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, degenerative joint disease of the ankles, peripheral neuropathy, osteoarthritis of the shoulders, and hypertension, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. The issue of service connection for incipient senile cataracts, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, was withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam and therefore, diabetes mellitus is presumed to have developed as a result of this exposure. As such, the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of symptoms of his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that TDIU is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes and heart disorder are not related to his service, specifically exposure to Q-fever during Project Whitecoat. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetic gastroparesis was granted, and he is now rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation due to the need for aid and attendance of another person or due to being housebound.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions that were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (numbness of the toes), right knee disorder, and skin disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating for this condition. The disability requires insulin and a restricted diet but does not necessitate regulation of activities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for extra-schedular consideration due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unable to work.

The Veteran's cause of death was valvular disease and sepsis. The Appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, arguing that his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam caused or contributed to his death. The VA is required to seek a medical opinion on whether hypertension and diabetes are causally connected to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully evaluate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death from congestive heart failure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not caused by in-service noise exposure. The Board grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying her periods of active duty. The claims for depression, diabetes mellitus, a chronic condition to account for right ankle pain, and degenerative arthritis of the right foot are also being referred for further review.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of January 2, 1985 for the award of a 10 percent disability evaluation for diabetes mellitus.