Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected AL amyloidosis, Type II diabetes mellitus, and tinea versicolor contributed to his death from sepsis. The Board finds that the service-connected conditions affected vital organs in a manner that left him less capable of resisting the effects of other disease or injury.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for a review of additional evidence submitted by the Veteran, and further development is needed before the claims can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II are currently rated at the maximum available evaluations. The effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II is established as March 11, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations and consideration of all service-connected disabilities in determining employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issue of service connection for a disorder of the feet, including peripheral neuropathy, is also granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all six issues, including the rating for diabetes mellitus and service connection claims for multiple myeloma, back pain, anemia, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he claims was caused by his exposure to herbicides while serving in Thailand. The Board finds that VA needs to obtain the Veteran's complete service personnel records (SPRs) to determine if he served in proximity to Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base and thus potentially exposed to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are denied. The effective date of the right elbow disorder is also denied.,Service connection has been established for diabetes mellitus, type II; however, an earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, and there is no evidence of any fault on the part of VA. The cause of death was a pulmonary embolism due to the femoral fracture.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claims for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction was dismissed due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing the appeal of the PTSD claim.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the cause of death and DIC claims, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected back disability and his death.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for amputation of the left great toe is granted at a 30 percent level, based on metatarsal involvement. The claim for an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at a private facility was denied due to the denial being based on care not related to a service-connected or aggravating condition, and because Medicare covered his costs. The VAMC will need to obtain additional records and provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused or aggravated the medical condition for which he sought treatment.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a VA cold injury examination and readjudicate the claim for service connection for residuals of frozen feet.

The VA has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus and did not have it during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed diabetes mellitus type 2 was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and specifically denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has directed that the Veteran be provided a new VA examination by a physician to determine if his hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides and no in-service or post-service diagnosis. The Veteran was not exposed to Agent Orange during his service off the coast of Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and residuals of a back injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold level of severity for consideration of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, and his claim is denied.