Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service and his erectile dysfunction is proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle and diabetes mellitus, type I. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered sufficient to establish service connection as his conditions had their onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is granted as of September 22, 2011. The SMC will be at the aid and attendance rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II was granted. The current effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction were not incurred or aggravated in service.,There is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension. However, this decision is vacated due to an error in interpretation of evidence.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is manifested by no more than the required use of and oral hypoglycemic agents and a restricted diet without regulation of activities. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case for an examination and etiology opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his period of service or is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, as well as whether it is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran also requested a hearing on this issue.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection of neuropathy of the upper extremities, neuropathy of the lower extremities, and retinopathy were also denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA and OPM records, and scheduling a VA examination for the right shoulder disorder.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus in service or within one year following discharge, and there is no competent evidence linking the current condition to service. For sleep apnea, while a VA examiner opined that it was not related to asthma, they did not provide an opinion on whether it began during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and heart disease were denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability was not incurred in active duty service and is therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease was not present during service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to service or to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease are related to his service, specifically exposure to herbicides during military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination(s), scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus, and any identified complications, and requesting SSA disability determination(s).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension and diabetes mellitus did not begin during or within one year after his active duty service, nor were they caused by or permanently increased in severity by his service-connected sleep apnea. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran's claim of secondary service connection for neuropathy of the lower extremities and bilateral eye disorder related to his newly established service-connected diabetes is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right eye disability, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine the etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's disease, including whether exposure to Agent Orange is a factor.