Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for stenosis, spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and degenerative joint disease of bilateral knees. Service connection was denied for a bilateral ankle disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all claims except for service connection for a psychiatric disability and alcoholism. The remaining claims are dismissed.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for a travel board hearing and to consider reopening the claim based on new evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further verification of service periods. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea are pending.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to consider service connection for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claims for failed back syndrome and diabetes mellitus, type II were both denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus was granted at 20 percent, effective May 11, 2009. Service connection for hepatitis C was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy, and Parkinson's disease are denied as the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim for cognitive impairment is granted as it is proximately due to his Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent to handle his funds without limitation, and new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claims of diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, colon cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not causally related to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes, and therefore denied the claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus II is rated at 20 percent, and his depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent. Both conditions are determined to be service-connected based on their merits rather than through a presumption or reopening of claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and diabetic nephropathy, effective June 7, 2013. The condition is rated based on its current manifestations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the extent and severity of his service-connected PTSD and whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, which was due to respiratory failure caused by community-acquired pneumonia and chronic hydro pneumothoraces, was not related to his active service or his service-connected disabilities. The appellant's statements were considered but are not sufficient to establish a causal link between her husband's death and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete evidence regarding his ability to work and the severity of his service-connected conditions. A new examination is required for PTSD, and a medical opinion is needed on the combined effect of all disabilities on employment.