Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Board found no evidence of diabetes being present in service or within one year after separation, and there is no credible evidence linking the current condition to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's unit did not engage in activities that would have exposed him to ground-level herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the appeal is premature and remands for further action, including adjudication of the appellant's request to be substituted as the claimant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes, which is presumed due to herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty, has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, vision disability, and back disability. The evidence did not show a link between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence showing that any of these disabilities were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and Barrett's esophagus are being remanded due to the need for verification of herbicide exposure during service, as well as for VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and irritable bowel syndrome were denied as there is no current diagnosis of either condition.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of his service-connected conditions, including PTSD. The Board finds that the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus did not manifest during service or within one year following separation, and it is not related to his service including exposure to benzene at Camp Lejeune. Therefore, service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides, including Agent Orange, during his active duty in Thailand and Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 18, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a fractured left great toe was denied. The RO found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy has been asymptomatic with no signs of albuminuria, casts or edema. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7541.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and urinary frequency as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The denial is based on a lack of verified exposure to herbicides during service in Thailand and insufficient evidence linking the claimed conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to January 13, 2004.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, render him unable to engage in or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorder are not service-connected due to lack of in-service exposure or development, and the claims for these conditions based on Agent Orange exposure are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease. As such, the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) as secondary to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU prior to January 28, 2012.