Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling an examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further development, including obtaining service personnel records, verifying herbicide exposure, and obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The Board requested additional development including obtaining medical records prior to 2004 and requesting an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, were found to be of such a nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to March 11, 2013. The Board denied the claim for TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus and all secondary conditions was granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides. However, the RO found that there was no in-country Vietnam service, leading to the severance of these benefits based on clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as regulation of activities has not been prescribed.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sickle cell disease has been reopened and is granted. He is also awarded secondary service connection for multiple conditions as secondary to his sickle cell disease, including right shoulder/arm disorder, hemorrhoids (blood in stool), fungal dermatitis, psychiatric disorder (depression), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, low back disorder, heart condition, eye disorders (glaucoma and blindness in the left eye), muscle and joint pain, erectile dysfunction, and alopecia. His rating for vertigo remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is productive of the use of insulin and diet restriction, with regulation of activity. The criteria for a rating of 40 percent have been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, retinopathy, and atypical chest pain due to posttraumatic stress disorder have all been granted based on presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral eye disability, both presumed to be related to the Veteran's herbicide exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of loss of use of extremities or blindness.

The Veteran's cause of death was denied due to a service-connected disability not being the primary or contributory cause. The claim for reopening has been granted.,The appellant is not considered permanently incapable of self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 based on her condition at that time.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus is related to service, given conflicting medical evidence and incomplete records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, a neck condition, or a low back condition. The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea is considered secondary to his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure is being remanded for further development involving the U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his military service. The evidence does not establish exposure to herbicides or other conditions during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding no evidence to support these claims. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened but not granted as there is no clear evidence that any current conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II as secondary to herbicide exposure and for tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are now in full resolution.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and private medical records for his claimed disabilities.