Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including anal fissures, pancreatitis, and Cushing's syndrome, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities or active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify Agent Orange exposure and determine the etiology of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the effective date being August 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for full VA service-connected disability compensation and full military retirement pay is denied as there is no legal basis to award retroactive VA compensation under the Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) program.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and cannot be presumed to have been so incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus and thyroid condition were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during service. The Board found that the claims are not supported by competent and credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have diabetes during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decision regarding his TDIU claim. The case is now pending and will be reviewed again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's military duties included visitation to Vietnam, and given the presumption of Agent Orange exposure for such visits, service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II, and a skin condition and scar, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, rendered him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. Service connection is granted for these conditions due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy affecting the eyes is denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran visited Vietnam during his annual leave and, therefore, was exposed to herbicides. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and granted a new rating. The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 50 percent disabling, but his left ankle scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran seeks a separate compensable disability rating for service-connected diabetic nephropathy. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to assess the current severity of his condition and obtain any pertinent treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to unclear evidence regarding his employability and the impact of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be reviewed again after a medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam is presumed and his condition is due to this exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and glaucoma are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his periods of active duty, including ACDUTRA.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is presumed to have been incurred in service due to his exposure to Agent Orange. The erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2 is also granted as it is considered a presumptive disease associated with exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus is granted due to his exposure to herbicides during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.