Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, lung disorder, shortness-of-breath, erectile dysfunction, neuropathy of hands, right foot, and left foot. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension was not found to warrant a higher rating, and service connection for various conditions including low back disorder, knee disorders, foot disorders, shoulder disorders, diabetes mellitus, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), and fatigue were denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral feet as they are not linked to military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and residuals of a right rib fracture. The appeals were decided on the basis that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and further medical evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's alleged herbicide exposure, and thus remands the case for such development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and hypertension were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for diabetes and hypertension, as well as an increased rating for residuals of right hand injury at the August 2011 Board hearing.

The VA compensation medical opinion determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death from interstitial lung disease. The primary cause of death was listed as interstitial lung disease, which caused acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) resulting in the Veteran's demise.

The Veteran's ASCAD has been manifested by dyspnea and fatigue resulting from physical activity, which is contemplated by the applicable rating schedule criteria. The effects of his ASCAD have not warranted referral to the appropriate VA officials for consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, is causally related to service. His diabetic nephropathy, chronic renal insufficiency with anemia (renal disorder), diabetic retinopathy, diabetic maculopathy, with bilateral mature cataracts (eye disorder), and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are all secondary to his diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the effect of his schizophrenia on daily life and for additional development in connection with service connection claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current eye disabilities, including diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, are not service-connected as his in-service blindness was due to a dental procedure unrelated to any disease or injury incurred during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides in Korea and no credible lay or medical evidence linking his current condition to military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues have been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicides during active duty in Thailand and obtain VA examination reports.

The Board finds that the reduction of the Veteran's DM rating from 20 percent to 10 percent was proper, as it reflected the deduction of the preexisting disability level. The current rating for DM is denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II and prostate cancer, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure in service or a link to service. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the grant of service connection for hypertension was clearly erroneous and severed it, effective September 1, 2005.