Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims for service connection for prostatitis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension (to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus), and hip conditions. The right hip disability is found to be at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and his peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service and have therefore denied all claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus, type II, did not have its onset during active duty or manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not incur a lung disability during service or as a result of service, and there is no evidence to support his claim for left ankle disability. The claims have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication, including consideration of new evidence and additional employment information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as there was no evidence of in-service injury or exposure to herbicides. The preponderance of the evidence showed that these conditions were not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding potential exposure to nerve agents and other chemicals during service.

The Board denied service connection for lupus, hypertension, and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of lupus during the appeal period.

The Board denied presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus and all secondary conditions, finding that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and thus was not presumed to be exposed to Agent Orange. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and congestive heart failure (secondary to hypertension), finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for further development and review, including verification of exposure to chemicals in service that may be related to Agent Orange.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and a left shoulder disorder. Service connection is denied for hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease s/p stent placement, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease (nonobstructive coronary artery disease) due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to adult respiratory distress syndrome, diabetes, renal disease and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The Board found that these conditions were not caused or substantially related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.