Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and prostate cancer as being due to exposure to Agent Orange during military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to a need for additional evidence. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left oophorectomy, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are being considered based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, an acquired mental disorder other than PTSD (claimed as anxiety attacks), OSA, and a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus, type II. The left elbow fracture with degenerative arthritis claim will also be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to exposure to herbicides in Thailand is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and therefore grants a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder and granted it. The claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, which was previously denied due to lack of exposure to herbicides in service, is also granted.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus are service-connected for the purpose of retroactive benefits under Nehmer v. United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and his cause of death is being further evaluated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a TDIU were denied due to her failure to report for VA medical examinations scheduled in conjunction with her original or reopened claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability caused his diabetes, which in turn caused diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. As such, both conditions are granted as secondary to the service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to exposure to herbicide agents during active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and anxiety/depressive disorder. The issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 was not incurred during active service or within the first post-service year. The Board found that the diagnosis of diabetes occurred prior to any period of active duty for training and thus denied service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eye disorders are not etiologically related to his active service or to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, did not manifest during his military service and is not otherwise attributable to his active service. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; a right shoulder disability; bilateral hearing loss; degenerative disc disease; and hypertension from appellate status.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus does not require regulation of activities, and therefore a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and tinea versicolor due to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune, as well as his claim for an increased disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and folliculitis of the scalp. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in service or due to herbicide exposure.