Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his complete service personnel records, including travel details. The issues of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for borderline diabetes was denied, while his claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted and assigned a 70% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in its investigation of the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Korea.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing further opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims and TDIU claim. The case will be returned to the Board once all necessary steps have been taken.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to unclear dates of his third period of active service, the need to verify periods of ACDUTRA service, and the need for an additional etiological opinion regarding the onset and nature of his diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, seizure disorder, and diabetes mellitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, but denied it on the merits. The Veteran's in-service herbicide exposure is presumed based on his service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and grants this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his Vietnam service and exposure, including requests for liberty logs from the USS Princeton.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is denied.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Ocala Regional Medical Center on September 9, 2009, September 11, 2009, and September 15, 2009 are denied as they were not for emergency treatment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the appellant's claims for service connection, including consideration of a secondary service connection theory via aggravation. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for SMC based on need for aid and attendance/housebound, earlier effective date for SMC based on need for aid and attendance, increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The RO acknowledged the Veteran's report of needing help with dressing, bathing, and buttoning clothes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and orthopedic conditions, are found to be in equipoise with his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. Therefore, the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities have been met.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disability, or medications prescribed for treatment.

The Veteran's service connected disabilities are rated at a combined 90 percent and render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service on Johnston Island and that he currently has a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's total combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 90 percent, rendering him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and Meniere's disease (claimed as vertigo/loss of balance). The Veteran's other claims, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disorder, and residuals of a ruptured appendix, are pending further development or remand.