Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and nephropathy warrants a 40 percent rating from May 11, 2011, forward.

The Board found no credible evidence that the Veteran's allergies worsened during service, and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient medical evidence linking the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus, type II, or peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities to service. As a result, service connection was denied for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, its associated complications (diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy), as well as his TDIU claim are all granted. The remaining claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder. However, it did not reach a decision on whether these claims are well-grounded or meritorious.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their request for a hearing and did not allege any specific error of fact or law in the determination being appealed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective dates have been denied. The Board found no current evidence of residuals from a fragmentation wound to the right temple, and that his diabetes mellitus with related disabilities were granted based on secondary service connection. Special monthly compensation was also granted based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a Social and Industrial Survey to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for generalized anxiety disorder and bilateral hearing loss are also addressed.

The Veteran's appeals on the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and an effective date prior to January 23, 2008 for diabetes mellitus, type 2 have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus denying the request to restore these benefits.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for an effective date of March 27, 2009 for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The issue of hypertension is remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of type I diabetes mellitus and has determined that it was incurred in active service, with a link to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged exposure to Agent Orange during his service aboard the USS ENGAGE in 1971.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and the claim will be reconsidered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, which he claimed was due to herbicide exposure. The decision is based on a direct service connection theory and not through any presumption or other special circumstances.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure, and the Board finds that all elements of presumptive service connection have been met. The claims for secondary service connection for retinopathy, nephritis, and peripheral neuropathy are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. Service connection has been established for diabetic retinopathy, and the Veteran is now rated at 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with complications including nephropathy (microalbuminuria), left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left hand neuropathy, right hand neuropathy, and tinea rash.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear service connection claims and a need for additional evidence regarding radiation exposure during service.

The Veteran's death was attributed to diabetes mellitus, which the Board finds insufficiently addressed due to a lack of medical opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected pancreatitis. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.