Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Board found no credible evidence of herbicide exposure during service and denied the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and hypertension as not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and benign prostatic hypertrophy were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of exposure to herbicides for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of February 21, 2008. His TDIU claim was granted with this effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and assigned a disability rating of 20 percent. The effective date remains February 20, 2001 as this is the earliest date entitlement arose.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his osteoarthritis of the right knee prior to April 24, 2006 and since June 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active duty military service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are being remanded due to inadequate notice in the original rating decision, and because adjudication of one claim may impact the other.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam and is entitled to presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus. However, further medical examination is needed to determine if there are any intercurrent causes of the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and tinea pedis are all granted as they meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and an asbestos related disability, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides or asbestos in service, and thus no basis for presumptive service connection. The claim for diabetes mellitus was also denied as the disease did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter. Service connection could not be granted on a direct basis due to lack of competent medical evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and further development of his claim, including consideration of whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus (diabetes) from January 8, 2008, forward was also denied.

The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and assistance due to his multiple nonservice-connected disabilities, which render him unable to perform certain daily activities without help. As a result, he qualifies for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO/AMC for additional development, including verification of his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for a new examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a fungal infection, as well as his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board also found that there was no evidence to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim for hepatitis C, which is not related to herbicide exposure.