Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is also granted. However, his PTSD claim remains pending as new evidence was not submitted to reopen this previously denied claim.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to insufficient notice for a scheduled hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve on shore in Vietnam and thus could not be presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. The appellant's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, due to exposure to herbicide agents were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for another VA examination to determine his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, as well as for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and clarifying the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The appeal is now pending again with the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted from March 13, 2012, as his combined disability rating was at least 80% and he met the schedular requirements. The issue is moot after May 16, 2013.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death, and no decisions were made on any of the issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, a prostate condition, and peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, but granted a 30% rating for gastritis prior to September 12, 2008.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code. The claim for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed heart disorder, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, bilateral ankle disorder, and bilateral knee disorder are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted as it is secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including headaches, COPD and Pickwickian syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, arthritis of the neck, arthritis of the legs (claimed as knees), arthritis of the back, arthritis of the shoulders, an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic liver disease, and a heart condition. The claims were denied based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board found that diabetes mellitus, type II did not become chronic during service or within one year after separation from service. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during service and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not manifest during service or within a presumptive period, and there is no competent evidence linking his current conditions to active duty. The appeal for service connection was denied.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds as such, his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's current diagnosis is not associated with herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not present during service or within one year after separation. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Type II Diabetes Mellitus.