Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a clarifying medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is not rated higher than 40 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities do not warrant a higher initial rating. The issue regarding secondary skin disability remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic neuropathy, and hypertension are not service-connected as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and coronary artery disease, finding the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand. The claims for erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is service-connected due to his diabetes mellitus, type II. He was granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to October 31, 2007, preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The Board has determined that further development is needed due to conflicting opinions and the need for clarification.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for the rating reduction and the ratings assigned for residuals of prostate cancer.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on the current level of disability. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated separately.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, brain cancer, a cardiac condition, and lung cancer were denied.,Service connection was not established for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was incurred during his active service, and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have confirmed exposure to herbicides in service, and there is no evidence linking any of his claimed conditions to military service or to any incident therein. As such, service connection for all claims is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and erectile dysfunction are service-connected due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam-era service. The peripheral neuropathy claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and considering Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied due to his PTSD disability, but the RO has since granted service connection for additional disabilities including diabetic renal disease with hypertension. The Board finds that further development is needed as there are no opinions addressing whether the Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and an upper respiratory disorder, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure, are denied. The Board found that there is no persuasive medical evidence or opinion establishing a relationship between these disabilities and the Veteran's service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and diabetes mellitus type 2, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service in Vietnam. The appeal is granted due to an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, DM, peripheral neuropathies, and ED, render him unemployable due to his physical and mental limitations.