Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome issue resulted in a denial of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetic retinopathy was denied as his best corrected visual acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft, are presumptively service-connected due to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the hip joints is pending. The claim for a skin rash has been reopened but remains denied as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II is granted. The low back disability claim was previously denied and reopening was granted due to new evidence received. Service connection is established based on a finding that the current condition is related to active duty.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sciatica and plantar fasciitis remains pending as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The eye disability claim was previously denied but reopened due to new evidence received, however no service connection is granted as there is no link between current condition and active duty.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, major depression, anxiety disorder) claim remains pending as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to missing service records and unavailability of private treatment records. The case will be reviewed after the necessary steps are taken.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and determined that new evidence supports this reopening. The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions, including back, knee, foot, elbow, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, heart disease, or psychiatric disorders, that were incurred in or aggravated by his service.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service in Thailand, specifically at Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's cause of death to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The underlying causes of death were not shown to be related to service or a service-connected disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus due to presumed exposure in Vietnam. However, bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service or presumptively linked to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, which he contends is due to exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Thailand, has been denied as there is no competent and credible evidence of exposure to herbicides or a diagnosis within one year following discharge. The Board finds that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus cannot be presumed exposed to herbicides under VA regulations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating during any portion of the appeal period.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and macular degeneration as secondary to service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these conditions.

The Veteran's current diabetes was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and may not be presumed related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of Type II diabetes mellitus was denied as the earliest possible effective date is August 11, 2006, when VA received his application to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2. The Veteran was not shown to have been exposed to Agent Orange or any other presumptive exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for type 2 diabetes and service connection for hepatitis C were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 2, 2010, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 has been granted. The case is now remanded for scheduling a hearing before the RO.