Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a total disability rating and whether her nonservice-connected disabilities render her unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his knee replacements and diabetes, do not render him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in service and is entitled to presumptions based on herbicide exposure, thus granting service connection for type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with complications (sixth left nerve palsy and diabetic retinopathy of the right eye) is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 7913. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating as his condition does not warrant regulation of activities or episodes of ketoacidosis/hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for a hearing, which was subsequently cancelled. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for both diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer as the Veteran did not serve in an area where exposure to herbicides was presumed. The diseases were also not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case to the Louisville, Kentucky RO for further development due to new service personnel records. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of death secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune. A VA medical examiner is needed to provide an opinion on whether any of the Veteran's causes of death are causally or etiologically related to his presumed in-service exposure to contaminated water.

The Board found no evidence of a direct or secondary service connection for the claimed conditions, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been at least 70 percent since April 10, 2007, and 90 percent since October 18, 2012. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with nephropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but his diabetic nephropathy has been rated separately and effectively since August 1, 2010. The Board finds that the criteria for a separate 30 percent rating for diabetic nephropathy have been met.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying herbicide exposure. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with bipolar disorder II is being evaluated for its potential impact on his hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant, and as such, these claims are granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol, right knee disability, left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and an eye disability have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The appeal of his diabetes mellitus claim has been withdrawn by the Veteran. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a member of the Board.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.