Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development and examination, including opinions regarding service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to various conditions, including hypertension, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD. The Board has ordered the case back for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was managed with insulin and oral medications but did not require regulation of activities or result in weight loss or ketoacidosis. The disability rating remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and concluding that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a link between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is granted. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his heart disorder, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy, which collectively meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, finding no credible evidence of herbicide exposure or a link to service. The Veteran's claims were also not supported by continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease and fatty liver disease. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues as they are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and work background.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed due to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand. The hearing loss claim was denied as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining a VA opinion on whether his hypertension was caused by service or related to his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional examinations and development of records, including VA medical records and Vocational Rehabilitation determination.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus are granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during his service at the U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred or aggravated during his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran set foot in Vietnam and diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The issue of TDIU is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the grant of service connection for diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that new and material evidence was received. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension began during his military service and is continuous since then, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was rated at 20 percent prior to November 17, 2011.,Effective November 17, 2011, the rating for diabetes mellitus type II increased to 40 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder and diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.