Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, requiring oral medication and insulin with a restricted diet but no regulation of activities, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran is shown as likely as not to have a right eye disability manifested by blurred vision and retinopathy that was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, which results in the grant of service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus or hypertension at any time relevant to this appeal and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and Agent Orange exposure contributed to his death from malignant neoplasm of the kidney. As a result, the claim for service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his hearing loss and diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hypothyroidism due to lack of evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or Agent Orange. The Veteran's claims were also denied as the conditions are not considered diseases or injuries under VA compensation laws.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and the diseases are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, which was service-connected, contributed to his death from suspected pulmonary embolism. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased initial disability ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected diabetes mellitus, and an increased initial disability rating for diabetic nephropathy were withdrawn in July 2014. The claims are therefore dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the case.

The Board has granted dependency and indemnity compensation based on the Veteran's service-connected diabetes as a contributory cause of his death from hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and related complications. The issue of TDIU after January 14, 2008 remains on appeal.

The Veteran's CAD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all found to be related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran's CAD is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and his other service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an expert medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed significantly to his death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from the date service connection was awarded. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his diabetes requires only use of an oral hypoglycemic agent and a restricted diet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obesity, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type I, hypertension, lumbar spine strain, and right knee DJD are proximately due to his service-connected lower extremity disabilities.