Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated secondary disabilities (eye disability, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and kidney disability) due to presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty. Service connection was also granted for bilateral hearing loss as a result of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus was denied as no evidence prior to July 22, 2009 could be construed as a formal or informal claim of entitlement to service connection.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for coronary artery disease is pending and will need to be addressed in a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicides in Japan and Vietnam.

The Board has determined that additional development of the claim is required, including obtaining further medical evidence and a VA examination. The appeal will be remanded to the AOJ for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and determining the nature and extent of his eye disorders.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as he does not require regulation of activities to manage his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of information regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and further development is needed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining employment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease are being remanded to obtain additional evidence regarding his in-service exposure to herbicides, specifically the deck logs of the USS John R. Craig (DD-885) during April 1972.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus, and gastrointestinal disability. The claim for sleep apnea was not reopened.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, schwannoma, Warthin's tumor, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, heart disease, and chronic myelogenous leukemia, all potentially related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, currently requires oral hypoglycemic agents and a restricted diet but not regulation of activities. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher evaluation are not met.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus, made it difficult for him to work. The criteria for a TDIU were met from May 2, 2011 to May 3, 2013.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus and PTSD with depression. The other issues were dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are presumed to have been caused by his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran died in May 2006 due to cardiopulmonary arrest, which was attributed to hypotension, congestive heart failure, and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The Board found that the cause of death was not service-connected.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam and whether his type II diabetes is due to other factors than a brief stay on South Vietnamese land. The appeal will be remanded for these determinations.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and Type II Diabetes Mellitus, finding that the Veteran did not have sufficient evidence to support his claims of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam or Okinawa.