Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, or diabetes mellitus, type II. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides, ionizing radiation, or other chemicals. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were not shown to be related to his service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder and anxiety, is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was evaluated at a 20% rating prior to April 6, 2010. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in his disability rating due to lack of medical documentation indicating he required regulation of strenuous activities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including exposure to chemical agents during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to assess his conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed lower extremity peripheral vascular disease may be related to his service-connected DM, but further examination is needed to determine this conclusively.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain any outstanding medical records related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and left hand third finger. The claims will be readjudicated based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and updated VA treatment records. A medical opinion will be obtained regarding the relationship between hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type 2, as well as an evaluation of his employability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has not required any regulation of activities, and from February 15, 2011, it has only met the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation. Therefore, his claim for increased ratings is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and diabetes mellitus, both secondary to herbicide exposure, are granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in April and May 1968 due to his duties as a photographer in or near the DMZ.

The Board denied entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's condition met the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7913.

The Board has ordered a remand to clarify the opinion regarding whether hypertension was aggravated by coronary artery disease and/or diabetes mellitus, including considering the role of the pacemaker.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as secondary to PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of the relationship between his service-connected PTSD and his current diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to ensure that he is accorded full compliance with the statutory duty to assist, including for an additional VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board dismissed the appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for headaches and a sinus disorder as moot due to their overlap with his already service-connected residuals, nasal fracture and septoplasty with sinus complaints and headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, including as due to exposure to Agent Orange in service, is being remanded for further development. The RO must verify the Veteran's claimed exposures at Fort Ord, California, and Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in active military service. The Board has granted entitlement to service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, erectile dysfunction, and polycythemia vera as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are being remanded due to incomplete examination reports. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these service-connected disability claims.

The Board has determined that service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the appellant.