Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected ulcerative colitis, coronary artery disease with diabetic nephropathy and liver disease, status post-transplant were denied. The claim for a separate evaluation for diabetic nephropathy was also denied as it is not permitted due to the close interrelationships between this condition and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's death was caused by an acute myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and therefore cannot be presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. As a result, the claims for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, colon cancer, asthma, sleep related alveolar hyperventilation, and hyperlipidemia are denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular accident, hypercholesterolemia, a disability manifested by left eye pain (phacomorphic glaucoma), and a disability manifested by blurring of vision (phacomorphic glaucoma) as well as hypertension. The claims were not reopened.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any other relevant exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension with diabetic nephropathy are all rated at the minimum levels allowed by the applicable rating criteria. The Board finds that none of these conditions warrant a higher disability rating.

The Court has restored a 40 percent evaluation for diabetes mellitus, effective April 1, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding diabetes mellitus, obesity, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is likely secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and the Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran claims service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he asserts is due to exposure to herbicides while stationed in Thailand. The Board has determined that further efforts should be made to verify the Veteran's assertions of herbicide exposure and obtain a medical opinion regarding the possible nexus between his claimed exposure to herbicides and diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 was not incurred in or aggravated by her military service, including herbicide exposure. The preponderance of evidence did not relate her current condition to her service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease (CAD) are denied. The Board finds that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service. Service connection is also denied for increased evaluations for tinea versicolor, left knee degenerative joint disease with limitation of motion, and left knee instability.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities are being remanded due to a need for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus. The AOJ must also return the January 2014 hypertension examination for an addendum regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by service-connected diabetes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a psychiatric disability, headaches, sarcoidosis with restrictive lung disease, and TDIU. The claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted.