Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is found to have its onset during active service and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased rating for hypertension remains under consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right leg disorder, left leg disorder, erectile dysfunction, bilateral knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder, headaches, eye disorder, heart disorder, prostate disorder, neurological disorder, and gastrointestinal disorders. The decision was based on secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 and hypertension are not related to his active duty service. The claim for hepatitis C is pending as there is no evidence of record linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for malaria has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II; anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified; and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating. The appellant is therefore denied an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure associated with herbicide exposure could not be established based on the available evidence.

The Board found that the cause of death, end stage esophageal cancer, was not related to service or any service-connected conditions. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and PTSD did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left eye blindness is not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities effectively result in the permanent loss of use of both lower extremities, precluding locomotion without the aid of a wheelchair. However, because he is eligible for assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. § 2101(a) in acquiring specially adapted housing, he cannot also receive a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was denied due to severance.,An effective date prior to June 19, 2007, for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is not granted as there is no entitlement to this benefit.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a kidney condition secondary to type II diabetes mellitus. The issue remains on appeal.,The Veteran does not have a kidney condition that is related to his active duty service or any service-connected disability.,The Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities due to any incident of his active duty service or to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to any incident of his active duty service or to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran does not have radiculopathy of the upper extremities due to any incident of his active duty service or to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran does not have radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to any incident of his active duty service or to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's prostate condition was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides. The issue remains on appeal.,The Veteran's daughter does not meet the criteria for benefits for a child born with spina bifida.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Type II diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and coronary artery disease, are found to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been evaluated at a 20 percent rating each, which is considered moderate incomplete paralysis. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant higher ratings as they have consistently been described as mild by VA examiners.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for additional medical records. The Veteran's cause of death is being reviewed based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The claims of service connection, initial rating, and effective date are not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Da Nang Harbor and thus no presumption of exposure applies. The Board also found that there is no competent medical evidence showing a diagnosis or treatment for diabetes during service.

The Board is remanding the case for further development to determine if the Veteran served in Vietnam during ACDUTRA and whether he was exposed to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The claims will be reconsidered based on this information.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings for type II diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy.