Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus or peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied. The Board also found no evidence of herbicide exposure on Guam during the Vietnam era, thus denying service connection based on presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and insufficient information regarding herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and consideration of a specific committee report. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as due to herbicide exposure, remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU for the period from November 3, 2007 to August 10, 2009 due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that his diabetes mellitus and related neuropathy, along with his low back disability, made him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with nephropathy and erectile dysfunction is rated at 20 percent. The claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus with penile dermatitis, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been granted, with a rating of 10 percent effective March 24, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been granted, effective May 31, 2012. The Veteran is now entitled to a combined 100 percent evaluation.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim of a thyroid disorder was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria for reopening.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental VA examiner's opinion to determine if the Veteran's current hypertension and diabetes mellitus were caused or aggravated by his service-connected sleep apnea.

The Veteran's death was caused by CAD, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in service. The Veteran did not have any of the claimed conditions at the time of his death and there is no evidence linking them to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral leg amputation, and congestive heart condition are related to his exposure to trichloroethylene during military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 13, 2010 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted. The Board also found that he is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; skin disorder, including psoriatic arthritis; liver disorder, including cirrhosis; portal hypertension; and esophageal disorder prior to a decision by the Board.

The Board has denied the reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and arthritis of the right hand, as the new evidence submitted does not establish a previously unestablished fact.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The claim was reopened due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular percentage requirements for TDIU, and the Board finds that he is unable to secure or maintain any substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus, type II were not shown to be related to his active service. As these conditions did not manifest within a year of separation from service or are otherwise not linked to service, the claims for service connection are denied.