Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA vocational rehabilitation records. A VA examination will also be conducted to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, which was previously denied due to lack of in-country exposure. The Veteran testified about his presence in Vietnam but provided no official orders or records supporting this.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, which is currently rated at 20 percent, has been upgraded to a 60 percent rating effective from August 21, 2012. The upgrade is based on the need for insulin and restrictions in diet and activities due to episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring visits twice a month.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to her active duty service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD and diabetes mellitus. The Board grants a TDIU for the entire appellate period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes due to herbicide exposure is being remanded as the RO needs to obtain his complete service personnel records, including any information from U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) regarding his claimed exposure at Takhli Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of diabetes mellitus and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral Charcot joints, bilateral foot drop, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and cataracts, are denied as they cannot be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by his military service due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and additional VA treatment records. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also raised due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus with associated complications.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability in service, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his current back disability, heart disability, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, affording a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diabetes mellitus, and readjudicating the issues. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus with neuropathy is pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, and there is no evidence of deformity of the penis to support a separate compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy were previously denied, but the RO has since granted separate 10 percent ratings for each upper and lower extremity.

The Veteran's kidney disorders were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board denied service connection for his claimed renal cysts.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure, and glaucoma as secondary to diabetes are all denied. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam and thus could not grant presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure. Diabetes was not present during service or within one year after discharge, and there is no medical evidence linking it to service. Glaucoma was also not shown to be related to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides during his time as an aircraft mechanic in Vietnam. The Board granted the claim on this basis.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, effective from June 17, 2013. The Veteran's DM now requires insulin, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his employability given his service-connected disabilities, and for obtaining any outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and earlier effective date for service connection of Type II Diabetes Mellitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that the Veteran required insulin or regulation of diet and activities to manage his diabetes, thus preventing him from receiving a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes, diabetic retinopathy with cataracts, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of those assigned.