Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The VA examinations and medical opinions provided no evidence to support a finding of aggravation. As such, the claim for secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining translations of Veteran's service treatment records and requesting supplemental opinions from VA examiners regarding the relationship between hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 40 percent evaluation for DM with erectile dysfunction and bilateral diabetic retinopathy, effective April 1, 2006. The decision also addressed whether a higher rating was warranted prior to November 5, 2010, and beginning from that date.

The Veteran's diabetes is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his condition only requires insulin and restricted diet.

The Board has ordered remand due to the need for further development regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand, which may affect the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at 20 percent. The combined rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to PTSD alone.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of cold injury to the bilateral feet, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with his active duty service in Korea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service and the condition did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Veteran seeks service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, which he claims is related to his military service and exposure to herbicides. The RO denied the claim based on lack of Vietnam service, but the Board finds that Thailand service should be evaluated.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was dismissed as he expressed satisfaction with the assigned effective date in his September 2007 statement.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty in Korea. The skin disorder claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of his exposure history.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and diabetic neuropathy of the left and right arms are currently rated at 20 percent each. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and diabetic manifestations (peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, erectile dysfunction), has been remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board found that the effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, should be April 8, 2005. The Veteran's claim was not based on a presumption or exposure basis and did not involve any issues related to service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion from a VA cardiologist regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and/or PTSD. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, vertigo, and heat stroke as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. The current diagnoses are not related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active service and that exposure to ionizing radiation did not cause his condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, based on exposure to herbicides during his military service.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, both of which are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board grants service connection for these conditions on a presumptive basis.