Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, eczematous dermatitis at staged ratings of 10 and 30 percent, malaria is not compensable, and PTSD warrants a TDIU effective November 12, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of peripheral neuropathy remains pending as additional development is needed.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder), diabetes mellitus type II, tachycardia, atrioventricular nodal re-entry, and degenerative arthrosis of the lumbar spine. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or any other compensable exposure.

The Veteran is found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected PTSD, and the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not present in service or until many years thereafter and is not related to service or to an incident of service origin.

The Veteran's appeal of the ratings for his diabetes mellitus and hearing loss is addressed in a separate remand. The effective date claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction has been denied as the evidence does not show that his diabetes requires regulation of activities to control.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining outstanding treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), a lung condition, diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus have been denied. The claim to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with major depression and alcohol abuse; pancreatitis; and/or type II diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that a remand is necessary as the current VA examination report is inadequate for adjudication purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, and heart condition (congestive heart failure) are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity. The RO previously granted service connection for these conditions but did not assign appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with hypertension and onychomycosis of the bilateral fifth toenails is currently rated at 20 percent, which reflects that it requires insulin and a restricted diet. The Veteran does not have any regulation of activities due to his diabetes mellitus. Ischemic heart disease has not been established as incurred or secondary to service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches were denied as there is no current disability. The claim for hypertension was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or Agent Orange exposure. The diabetes mellitus claim was denied because it did not manifest within a year after service. PTSD was not diagnosed during service and thus cannot be granted based on service connection.,The Veteran's competency to handle disbursement of VA benefits funds was found to be lacking.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, right great toenail removal, or tinnitus for VA purposes. The preponderance of evidence is against service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule him for VA examinations, and determine the appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issue remains whether diabetes mellitus, type II, was incurred in or aggravated by active duty and/or due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from Agent Orange exposure have resulted in a combined rating of 70 percent or higher, which meets the criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his PTSD and other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus had onset during service and the Board finds that it was incurred in active military service.