Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus, render him unable to obtain or maintain any form of substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions preclude him from obtaining and maintaining such employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, and a kidney disability have been granted. The Board has found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand, presumptively granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected gastroenteritis/gastritis was denied. The issue regarding the reopening of his diabetes mellitus, type II, claim is pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not shown during service, and there is no credible evidence of herbicide agent exposure. As such, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred or aggravated during service and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the weight of the evidence shows the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam, thus he does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, which is associated with herbicide exposure, has been remanded due to the need to verify his alleged Agent Orange exposure. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are REMANDED to obtain a VA examination to address whether these conditions arose in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's diabetes insipidus has been manifested by one (and not more than two) episode(s) of parenteral hydration in a year, warranting a 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective February 25, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for PTSD and denies an increased rating. For TDIU, the Veteran meets the schedular criteria as his service-connected disabilities are reasonably shown to be of such nature and severity as to preclude his participation in any regular substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has ordered a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and service connection for erectile dysfunction. The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, back disability (including arthritis), left knee disability (including arthritis), and right knee disability (including arthritis) were denied. Service connection was granted for coronary artery disease with a 60% rating, PTSD with a 50% rating, diabetes mellitus type II with a 20% rating, and chest scar with a 10% rating from April 24, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to herbicide exposure at Fort Drum.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to diabetes mellitus and renal failure. Service connection for PTSD is granted as an accrued benefit, but it did not contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for tuberculosis, hepatitis C, sexual dysfunction, and Type II diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain in-service medical records from Fort Field Hospital in Vung Tau, South Vietnam. Additionally, private treatment records from the Wellness Center/Dr. S.W. and Carter County Health Department in Ardmore, Oklahoma are needed.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and renal disease, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during his active service or within one year of separation from service. The Board also found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and preparing an addendum report by a qualified examiner to address the relationship between his hypertension and service-connected conditions.