Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40% from July 28, 2008 onwards. The low back disorder is rated as 40% disabling overall.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and PTSD were denied. The claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetic retinopathy. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be related to his diabetes mellitus, and there is no evidence that it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition. His diabetic retinopathy has also been denied as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during active military service. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues include service connection for multiple disabilities, including right knee, left knee, right shoulder, left shoulder, respiratory disorder, anemia, and edema of lower extremities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to it. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure are denied. The claim of service connection for a prostate disorder other than cancer is pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, which was secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II, has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and diabetes mellitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that his diabetes required regulation of activities, nor did it reflect any further compensable complications of diabetes. For PTSD, the Board noted that while he had some symptoms consistent with a 70% rating, such as suicidal ideation and unprovoked irritability, these were not shown to be present at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral cataracts, and erectile dysfunction due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection is established for Type II diabetes mellitus on a presumptive basis as the disease manifests within one year of separation from service. Bilateral cataracts are considered secondary to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus. Erectile dysfunction is considered secondary to medication used to treat PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy have been dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, diabetic retinopathy, and coronary artery disease. The decision also addressed silicosis but did not provide a rating or effective date.

The Board found no evidence of chronic disability related to hypertension or diabetes mellitus type 2 during service, and the post-service treatment records do not provide sufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia is found to have caused his substance abuse, which in turn contributed to his hypertension and diabetes control. This combination ultimately led to a fatal cerebral hemorrhage.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, finding that his exposure to herbicide agents was not supported by evidence of record and that there is no direct or presumptive service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for type 2 diabetes and a prostate disability due to exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand. The claims are being remanded for further development based on the recognition that Agent Orange was used on military bases in Thailand during the Vietnam era.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, is granted as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. His bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are presumed due to in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is granted based on presumed combat experience.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his claim for TDIU is warranted on a schedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed bilateral hip disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.