Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination regarding whether hypertension was aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus or other conditions. The Veteran's claim for service connection is pending and will be reviewed after additional development.

The Board denied service connection for GERD with hiatal hernia and diabetes mellitus, attributing the latter to herbicide exposure during service in Hawaii. The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for tinnitus and hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claim for service connection for idiopathic atrial fibrillation, including as secondary to ischemic cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus. The AMC will obtain VA treatment records from Austin Heart Hospital and Temple and Austin VAMCs, as well as private medical records if available. Additionally, a VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's atrial fibrillation and whether his service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated it.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tarsal tunnel syndrome and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the submission of additional VA treatment records that were not considered by the Board.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus requires insulin and a restricted diet, but not regulation of activities. The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes during the Veteran's initial period of active service or within one year following his discharge. The Veteran's diabetes was considered to have existed prior to service and not incurred in the line of duty.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's myocardial infarction occurred during a period of active military service, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The VA examiner opined it was less likely than not the heart disease was incurred on active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain private treatment records and to afford him a new examination in order to determine his employability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were also on appeal but the Veteran indicated he no longer wished to continue these appeals in his August 2008 substantive appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been granted. The issue of service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports and failure to comply with prior Board directives.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral eye disability are also presumed related to his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Korea. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and adjustment disorder, is also granted based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the appellant's medical expenses incurred at Slidell Memorial Hospital on August 5, 2008 were reimbursable due to his service-connected disabilities and because a VA facility was not feasibly available.

The Veteran's claim for SMC by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine whether the Veteran served in the inland waters of Vietnam and is therefore able to avail himself of the presumption of exposure to herbicides, as well as to address his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The case is REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's cardiac disability and diabetes mellitus are not etiologically related to his service-connected infectious hepatitis, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for a TDIU have not been met.