Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of revised VA regulations.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to malignant neoplasm of the liver, with contributory causes of hypertension and diabetes. The Board found that none of these conditions were service-connected or related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to insufficient information provided by the RO regarding his alleged exposure to herbicides while stationed at U-Tapao Air Base in Thailand. The VA will request verification from JSRRC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, pilonidal cyst, and low back disability were granted. The conditions are considered direct service connections as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or a presumption.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and skin cancer, finding no in-service event, injury or diagnosis. The Veteran's first diagnoses of glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus were not during military service.

The Veteran is rated as 100 percent disabling for cerebral-vascular accident with partial right sided hemiparesis associated with Type II diabetes mellitus from September 30, 2002. He does not meet the schedular criteria for SMC based on housebound status prior to that date.,The Veteran is entitled to specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities resulting in loss of use of lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without assistive devices.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, or a separate compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, were not met.

The case is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and PTSD. The TDIU claim will be deferred pending resolution of these issues.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension began in service and has been continuously present since then. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, was initially demonstrated many years after service and is not shown to be causally related to his active service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and osteoarthritis of the left thumb are not shown to be causally related to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye cataracts are as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are presumptively related to his in-service herbicide exposure, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Thailand, which could impact his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus and TDIU was denied as his service-connected conditions do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and sexual impotence as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus are not related to his service-connected bilateral foot disability, and thus denied these claims. The evidence did not show a direct relationship between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus, and asthma were denied as there was no evidence of their onset in service or within one year thereafter. The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not establish a presumption of exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to assess his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU, with his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any service-connected disabilities and therefore cannot meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status. The claim for service connection for various conditions is also denied.