Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus. The rating for PTSD remains under review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, right knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and myasthenia gravis. The evidence submitted since the April 2006 rating decision did not provide new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing. Service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease and/or diabetes mellitus type 2. This includes obtaining missing private treatment records from Dr. E.D., arranging for a VA medical examination, and providing another opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and microalbuminuria has been rated at 20 percent since October 12, 2010. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as regulation of activities was not necessary to control his diabetes.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and granted it on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as there is no evidence showing he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to March 31, 2009. The SMC claim was also denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for regular aid and attendance or permanent housebound status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not currently suffer from hearing loss in either ear, as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,After a thorough review of the evidence, including the Veteran's STRs and post-service medical records, the examiner diagnosed sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. However, the objective audiometric results do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a local regional office hearing and to address the service connection issues related to diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer, both claimed as due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure and a need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and none of the conditions which were the causes of his death can be presumptively service-connected or connected on a direct basis. The evidence does not support the Appellant's contentions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and additional development is required.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his upper extremity neurologic disability, as well as whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities. A VA examination will be conducted to address these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in the Republic of Vietnam and his duties at Kunsan Air Force Base, Korea did not result in exposure to herbicides. Therefore, the claims for service connection based on herbicide exposure are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and renal failure, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service occurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury. The Board also found that direct service connection was not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to non-compliance with the February 2014 remand instructions.