Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus is presumed to be associated with his exposure to Agent Orange during service in Korea, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure in service. The cause of death from metastatic GE junction cancer was not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus. The right knee disorder, ingrown toenails of the right foot and fungal infection of the right toenail, ingrown toenails of the left foot and fungal infection of the left toenail, and a left foot disorder are all being addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, are found to be sufficiently severe to produce unemployability without regard to advancing age.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the MRMC from April 27, 2012 to May 1, 2012 are not eligible for payment or reimbursement as he did not receive emergency treatment for a service-connected condition. The treatment was primarily for atrial fibrillation, which is not associated with his diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and no diagnosis or treatment for diabetes during service. The Board also found that diabetes did not manifest within one year after service separation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and cardiovascular disorder due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for these conditions based on his service records and medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for visual field defect, right knee disability, diabetes mellitus, residuals of a stroke, and heart condition as the evidence did not support an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was received in January 2009. Prior to September 2009, his combined disability rating for diabetes and associated complications was 60 percent, effective April 11, 2008; in September 2009, service connection was granted for PTSD, raising his combined disability rating to 70 percent, also effective April 11, 2008. The Veteran's income fell just below the average poverty threshold for one person after adjustment for Social Security and Medicare taxes, while engaged in marginal employment in running his portable barbeque business.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, which he claims is due to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. The case is being remanded to obtain the ship's deck logs for the USS Kitty Hawk to confirm whether the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange while on shore.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy left arm, cardiovascular heart condition with surgery, and diabetes mellitus prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected anxiety disorder with PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and status post frontal meningioma were denied as there is no credible evidence of in-service injury or exposure, nor any competent medical opinion linking the current conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and depression. The Veteran is entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for his degenerative joint disease of the right knee and an initial rating of 50 percent or higher for his depression since June 30, 2011.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 50 percent effective December 1, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain or limitation of motion following his total hip replacement.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and for further development before readjudicating the claims.