Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a separate evaluation for cardiovascular complications of diabetes mellitus and service connection for an upper gastric disability, claimed as injury of the esophagus.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and renal disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam did not cause his conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran's death was not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disability related to service, and his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to service. The claim for type II diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as he had not been unemployable prior to September 7, 2011 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due solely to his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination. The issue of entitlement to a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes remains on hold.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type I aggravated his hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether his diabetes mellitus type I requires regulation of activities as indicated under Diagnostic Code 7913. The claim for TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for chloracne. The claims for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus and for a TDIU are pending.

The Veteran's service included work duties around the perimeter of Thai air bases and occasional refueling in Vietnam. His diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding it presumptively related to service in the Republic of Vietnam due to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic nephropathy and hypertension is being remanded due to the failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. The case will be handled by scheduling another hearing before a VLJ of the Board.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not shown to be related to his active service, and the Board finds that it is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lung disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, and diabetes mellitus, Type II were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of a current disability for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus was not related to his service and there is no evidence of compensable Type II diabetes mellitus within one year of service separation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.,However, his vision disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected cerebrovascular accident.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic retinopathy is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his disability level and denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's diabetes is currently rated at 20 percent, which reflects the need for insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent and a restricted diet. The Veteran does not have episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization, nor does he have complications that would prevent him from receiving separate compensation.