Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for a thyroid disorder and diabetes mellitus, including consideration of exposure to radiation during military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and lung condition, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other chemicals that could cause the conditions. The Veteran's claims were not granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right thumb disability does not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture with related factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization, and thus did not warrant a referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and diabetes mellitus. The Board has declined jurisdiction over the TDIU issue as it was not properly appealed at the time of the October 2014 decision. The Veteran's appeal is for increased evaluations for his service-connected conditions and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to March 20, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and addressing the propriety of reducing his PTSD disability rating.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was granted service connection effective April 24, 2008. The RO found new and material evidence to reopen his PTSD claim in May 2014, which led to the grant of service connection for an anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further procedural action regarding his claims of service connection and initial disability ratings.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to assess his functional impairment due to service-connected disabilities and determine if he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for a bilateral hand disorder and diabetes mellitus, type 2 are being remanded due to the need to obtain updated treatment records and review his claim in light of recent guidance on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD alone, combined with other service-connected disabilities rated at 60 percent or more, meets the criteria for a TDIU rating from July 30, 2010. The Veteran is also eligible for SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) due to his PTSD alone.

The Veteran's heart disability (coronary artery disease) is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty.,There is no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's GAD is currently rated at 70 percent prior to September 11, 2014 and will be reassessed after that date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and related conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type I diabetes mellitus was presumptively incurred in active service due to its onset within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, head injury residuals, type II diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other conditions that would support presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), sleep apnea, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, neck disability, low back disability, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, iritis, allergies, nephrolithiasis, erectile dysfunction, and lip rash are all granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral cataracts are at least as likely as not due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining deck logs from his ship and determining if he served in inland waterways of Vietnam. The Veteran should also be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if his diabetes is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of herbicide exposure or any other form of direct service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to ionizing radiation and whether he meets the requirements for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.