Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and disorder of the left foot were not incurred or aggravated during her periods of active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the condition was not present within one year after discharge. The Board finds that service connection cannot be established on a direct basis.

The Board has found that the Veteran's metastatic colon cancer with lung metastasis, as well as his diabetic peripheral neuropathy, are service-connected due to exposure to aviation gasoline containing tetraethyl lead during military service. The claim for service connection was reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not manifested by all of the required criteria for a higher rating prior to October 23, 2007. Since that date, it has been manifested by restricted diet and regulation of activities but not requiring insulin or hospitalization.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to herbicide exposure is being remanded as the Board did not provide adequate reasons and bases for its finding of no herbicide exposure in Thailand. The case must be referred to DOD for verification.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities have all been denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and that the Veteran's hypertension and peripheral vascular diseases are not related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied as secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 was denied as there is no competent evidence of current disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, residuals of squamous cell carcinoma, left vocal cord, and erectile dysfunction are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostatitis, claimed as a prostate disorder, was denied. The Board found that there is no competent and credible evidence to suggest an association between the Veteran's prostatitis and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a diabetes mellitus examination. The Veteran's appeal is not yet decided.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining deck logs from the USS Forrestal to determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during a fire in July 1967. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of death and accrued benefits.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is rated at 40 percent from November 22, 2010 to June 24, 2011 and at 60 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise on whether management of diabetes required regulation of activities.

The Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death, and the Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus II.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was aggravated by active military service and is therefore considered to have been incurred in service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus did not begin in service or within one year of his separation from active duty. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied. The reduction of the prostate cancer disability from 100 percent to 40 percent effective October 1, 2010 was upheld. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 40 percent since October 1, 2010, for residuals of prostate cancer was also denied.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for DM was granted, and a separate 10% rating was assigned for chronic diarrhea associated with DM. The TDIU claim prior to September 22, 2011, was also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, back disability, right knee disability, and left ankle and foot disability, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The Board finds entitlement to TDIU is warranted.