Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being required, including obtaining medical records and procuring a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's prostate disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining all types of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a 10% disability evaluation for hypertension, a 20% disability evaluation for diabetes mellitus, and a 10% disability evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine prior to March 16, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from esophageal cancer. The esophageal cancer was determined to be unrelated to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes mellitus were denied. The claim to reopen a neuromuscular disorder was not granted, and the claim for an appendectomy scar did not result in a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cardiomyopathy with coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, posttraumatic stress disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy, are being reviewed to determine if they render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is not service connected, but his diabetes mellitus has been rated at 20% since April 1, 2007. The decision on the right knee issue remains pending as it was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicides due to a lack of evidence showing onset during active service or any link between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 100 percent effective May 19, 2008 due to the need for more than one daily insulin injection and regulation of activities with episodes of hypoglycemic reactions requiring three hospitalizations per year.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating as his disability picture did not more nearly approximate the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and verification of his claimed Vietnam exposure. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions have been completed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the precise dates of any period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and active service, as well as to obtain relevant medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea will be remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his service-connected conditions, as well as clarification on periods of active duty.

The Board denied the appellant's request to extend her delimiting date for DEA benefits due to insufficient evidence showing that she required special restorative training or had an illness that interfered with her education.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a direct link to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for the claimed conditions as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including tremors of the feet, hands, migraine headaches, diabetes mellitus, adrenal gland disability, renal disability, hypertension, heart disease, lung cancer, and pes planus, were not incurred in service or due to exposure to herbicides. The claims are denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, gall bladder disorder, liver disorder, and residuals of a miscarriage are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at July 11, 2005.

The Board has determined that diabetes, presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents in service, contributed to the Veteran's death from pulmonary embolism. As such, the criteria for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death have been met.