Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran has been granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction, both of which are presumed to be related to his exposure to Agent Orange during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and various types of peripheral neuropathy. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his service-connected diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 6, 2006, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as his original claim was received on March 6, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been denied. The effective dates for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type 2 are August 4, 2008, as these conditions were granted based on the date of claim. For PTSD, the effective date is January 1, 1991.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, which he asserts is due to herbicide exposure in Korea, was denied as there was no evidence of such exposure and the disease did not manifest within one year after discharge. The Board found that the Veteran had no in-service evidence of diabetes mellitus and no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic retinopathy with macular degeneration, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to herbicide exposure during his service in Korea. His secondary service connection claims are also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of separation from service or are not otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is considered to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from pancreatic cancer. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency transportation on February 15, 2010 are eligible for payment due to the nature of his symptoms and liability.

The Veteran's death is being reviewed to determine if it was caused by VA care or treatment, and whether the cause of his death was reasonably foreseeable. The case is being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and review new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Thailand and Vietnam. The VA will make as many requests necessary to obtain service department records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for diabetes mellitus type II with renal insufficiency remains at 20 percent, and the claim for an effective date prior to May 14, 2009 is denied.

The Veteran was granted service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II, diabetic retinopathy and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as complications of his diabetes, hypertension, and Dupuytren's contractures. Service connection is also granted for essential hypertension, but not related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA SMP aid and attendance/housebound examination to determine whether the appellant is in need of aid and attendance or if he is housebound due to his disabilities. The appellant also needs assistance with cooking, dressing, medication management, and paying bills.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.