Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Veteran's chronic Type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral rotator cuff tendonitis are granted as they were incurred as a result of VA medical treatment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and necrobiosis lipoidica and peripheral vascular disease are separately rated as noncompensable.,Service connection for tardive dyskinesia secondary to diabetic gastroparesis has been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, and service connection for various conditions. The effective date of the temporary total disability rating for surgery necessitating convalescence is set at September 3, 2003.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Lincoln General Hospital from February 18, 2007 to February 23, 2007 is granted due to the emergent nature of his treatment and the unavailability of VA facilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran was not found to have peripheral neuropathy, and his claim for diabetes mellitus is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. The case should be returned for further action, including scheduling another hearing of the Veteran's choosing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including access to employment verification and VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder contributed substantially and materially to his death, which was caused by an acute myocardial infarction. The Board finds that the service-connected psychiatric disorder combined with other conditions to cause the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of diabetes mellitus and an evaluation of his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of her disabilities, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of her gall bladder disorder, fatty liver, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and back/neck pain/headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold percentage requirements for TDIU, as his total combined disability rating is only 70 percent. The evidence does not support a finding of unemployability due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes, hypertension, and cataracts do not warrant increased ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, renal insufficiency with hypertension, incisional hernia, diabetes mellitus with retinopathy and impotence, right knee disability, left knee disability, neurodermatitis, tinnitus, limitation of motion of the right knee, hearing loss, and other conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection or higher ratings for most conditions, with some exceptions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension are granted service connection, with the former being established on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of its onset during active service or a relationship to any in-service disease or injury, including herbicide exposure. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicides as claimed.