Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities is currently rated at 20 percent each, effective October 23, 2012. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating based on additional symptoms or progression.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome have been granted, but the effective date remains prior to March 4, 2009 for her assigned 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has not required a regulation of activities since February 26, 2008 and therefore does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 11, 2011. The claims for hypertension and anxiety/depressive disorder were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims. Service connection for bilateral knee disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, hip disorder, ankle disorders, and lumbar spine disorder are all denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as he did not file a new or reopened claim prior to August 1, 1986. The effective date is set at the date of receipt of his application on that day.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying the appellant's exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and right knee condition have all been denied. The Board finds no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for hemorrhoidectomy and for reopening his previously denied PTSD, heart attack, stroke, breathing treatments/COPD, and anal reconstruction claims. The Veteran did not appeal these decisions.

The Veteran's disability ratings for diabetes mellitus and hypertension were reduced, with the reduction in the rating for diabetes mellitus being proper due to improvement in his condition. The Veteran was not entitled to a higher rating as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for herpes, optic nerve damage, hepatitis A, B, C, gallstones, bronchitis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, HIV/AIDS, peripheral neuropathy and hypertension have not been met. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to any service-connected disability, and the Board found that there is no evidence to support a finding that his tobacco use disorder was proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40% due to the need for insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities. The right femur fracture rating remains denied.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional information and examination regarding the onset of the condition during active duty or a period of ACDUTRA.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to or hastened his death. The appellant claims that her husband was exposed to herbicides during service, had complications from his service-connected conditions, and did not have active cancers prior to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, malaria, gout, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and ischemic heart disease (claimed as cardiovascular and cerebral vascular accident), finding no competent evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease are presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicides during service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during service, and therefore his diabetes mellitus, type II is presumptively incurred due to this exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have incurred during active military service due to herbicide exposure, and the Board grants his claim for service connection.