Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Type II diabetes mellitus and related conditions, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and left knee instability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that new evidence was submitted to reopen some claims, but the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any condition.

The Veteran's service aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma City did not involve actual herbicide exposure, and his diabetes mellitus type II first manifested many years after service, with no evidence of a causal relationship to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type I and cataracts, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service and that her cataracts are secondary to her service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not etiologically related to his period of service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection based on a service-connected disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied as his unemployability is primarily due to his bipolar disorder, not his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and fatty liver, cirrhosis of the liver are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus as an aggravating factor, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and diabetes are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board found the preponderance of evidence against a finding that there is a nexus between type II diabetes mellitus, which first manifested many years after discharge from service, and the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board has determined that the case requires additional development to determine whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his Vietnam military service and if so, whether this exposure is related to his diabetes mellitus. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death will be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of all submitted evidence.

The Veteran's initial ratings for CAD, DMII, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable rating criteria.,The Veteran's initial rating for left eye disability has been denied due to lack of evidence showing restricted diet or regulation of activities. The current 30 percent rating is maintained.,The Veteran's ED condition does not warrant a compensable rating as his erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for any specific rating under applicable regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the inability to verify his Vietnam TDY assignment and missing personnel records. The AOJ is instructed to request SSA disability determination(s) and flight manifest records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, to include as secondary to Agent Orange exposure due to lack of evidence showing exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran did not present new and material evidence since the January 2004 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, prostate disability, spleen disability, liver disability, and peripheral neuropathy. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service disease or injury, nor is there credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and left below-the-knee amputation are presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure.