Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease, diabetes with erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for COPD. The Veteran's exposure to nerve agent VX during active service is conceded, but a VA examination is needed to determine if his current COPD is related to this exposure.

The Veteran's death was caused by myocardial infarction due to or as a consequence of COPD, which is service-connected.,The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed because the cause of death is not service-connected.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple conditions, including Type II diabetes mellitus and related disabilities. The Board finds that the Veteran's loss of use of both lower extremities due to his service-connected disabilities warrants specially adapted housing benefits.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims at this time.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and therefore his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and a cardiovascular disability, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent, which the Board finds to be a full grant of his appeal. The criteria for higher ratings are not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to address the existence and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as due to exposure to herbicides, was denied because there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current diabetes mellitus is related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing VA and private treatment records related to his diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability or any condition related to military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer were not shown to be related to his active military service, including exposure to herbicides. As a result, service connection was denied for both conditions.

The Veteran's death was found to be due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes, PTSD, multiple skin disorders, hypertension, and urinary changes. The Board determined that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether these conditions caused him to require aid and attendance from another person, thus granting special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and Parkinson's disease were denied as there was no evidence of these conditions during or after his military service. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of shrapnel wound left knee, status post left knee total replacement was granted but the Veteran is still seeking a higher evaluation.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to, aggravated by, or the result of service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was granted. His claim to reopen a claim for peripheral neuropathy as a complication of diabetes mellitus was also reopened but denied.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and awarded special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to scheduling issues, and no specific rating or effective date is provided.