Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for hypertension and service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection for type II diabetes mellitus has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand, which is a recognized exposure basis for service connection of certain diseases including diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and sleep apnea, as well as his requests for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 60 percent for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicides during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral diabetic retinopathy, finding that there was no confirmation of his actual presence in Vietnam or on inland waterways, thus precluding a presumption of herbicide exposure. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have chronic symptoms of diabetes during service and that diabetes did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied. The claims for DM, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure are also denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in the record.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes insipidus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's vision problems, including diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the potential pre-service onset of his psychiatric condition and the relationship between his schizophrenia and diabetes.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have herbicide exposure during active service, and thus could not establish service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to such exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted based on the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities (chronic low back disability, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic retinopathy) meeting the schedular criteria as of June 3, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, visual disorder, and recurrent urinary urgency were not incurred in service or due to a service-connected disability. The claims for secondary service connection were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claims of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities and residuals of a back injury are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. The claim of service connection for the residuals of a right great toe infection (claimed as gout) has been withdrawn.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and determine if the appellant's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, which he claims was caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's diabetes and his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type 2; hypertension; and right upper extremity neuropathy were denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed conditions (arthritis, hypertension, gout, carotid stenosis, and DM) are not related to his service-connected pyelonephritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his employability prior to August 29, 2007. The VA must obtain retrospective medical opinions regarding the impact of all service-connected disabilities on his employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, with erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy, is rated at 20 percent since May 16, 2007. The Board denied the issues of service connection for hypertension and separate compensable ratings for erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy.