Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, chronic eye infections, and diabetes mellitus. The case is remanded for further development related to these issues.

The Veteran's non-service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to permanently preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment consistent with his age, education, and occupational experience. The Board finds that the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating are met, granting non-service-connected disability pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for travel payments was denied as he did not apply within the required 30-day period after completing his travel, despite meeting eligibility criteria due to an increased disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of reopening his service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to herbicide exposure due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral lower extremity amputations and prostate cancer, cause him to require regular aid and attendance due to his inability to perform daily activities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, skin rash, gastrointestinal issues, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, tingling feet, cardiovascular disorders, and back disorder. The appeal is considered on its merits.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, ischemic heart disease, left foot amputation, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, and erectile dysfunction are all granted due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service in Thailand.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is service-connected, and he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities. His erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus. After considering all of the evidence, including a VA examination report from March 2015, which indicated that the Veteran was pre-diabetic within one year of discharge, the Board finds it as likely as not that his diabetes became manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service discharge in April 2005. Therefore, presumptive service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremity edema was denied, as there is no evidence that the condition is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities was granted with a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging a diabetes mellitus examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound of the neck remains pending.

The Veteran's vision loss is not service-connected, as it is due to his service-connected diabetes. His hypertension is not service-connected and cannot be presumed related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran does not meet the income requirements for nonservice-connected special monthly pension (SMP).

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is being remanded due to an unadjudicated issue of service connection for glaucoma, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to inadequate examination and lack of etiological opinion. The dental claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and its associated complications, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and/or PTSD), have not been found to be related to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to service connection for cholesterol, short-term memory loss, diabetes mellitus, eligibility for a non-service connected pension, and TDIU. The claim of service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to new evidence received since the April 2009 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for an opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis and his claimed diabetes and skin disorder.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and treatment records. The case will be adjudicated again after these are obtained.