Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and the cause of death due to coronary artery disease, both presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, diabetes mellitus, and heart condition. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a finding of diabetes mellitus, type II being incurred in or aggravated by service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected sarcoidosis and therefore denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability and diabetes are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is found to be related to his in-service pre-diabetic symptoms, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if his diabetes mellitus is related to service exposure to dioxins in Guam. The issue of reopening the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder will also be addressed.

The Veteran is entitled to specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, including loss of use of both lower extremities. The claim for a special home adaptation grant is moot as the Veteran is already eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a skin condition are being remanded due to the need to obtain his complete service personnel records, deck logs for the USS Intrepid, and any outstanding private treatment records. The Board will determine whether he served in Vietnam or on inland waters of Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in active service and cannot be presumed to be related to such service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities are of such severity that he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for service connection of COPD. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin cancer, impaired glucose tolerance and/or diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and back injury were all granted. The Veteran was assigned a 100% disability rating for PTSD from November 26, 2007 to January 26, 2009, and a greater than 50% rating thereafter.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity beginning September 12, 2006 and for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity beginning September 12, 2006.

The Board has determined that the purchase of a home therapy spa is necessary to help promote the Veteran's independence in daily life due to his severe disabilities, including diabetes and neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case for an adequate VA medical examination to address the Veteran's theory of direct service connection and the pertinent evidence concerning in-service symptoms and liver dysfunction.

The VA determined that the Veteran's loss of vision in his right eye was not caused by negligence or fault on the part of VA, but rather due to the progression of his diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of tinea versicolor and diabetes mellitus are related to his service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hypertension and anxiety disorder, as well as the need for a statement of the case on the increased rating issue.