Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus with hypertension, fatigue, and erectile dysfunction has been manifested by a restricted diet, limited activity, oral medication, and insulin. The criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent have not been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right knee disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for additional private treatment records. The Veteran's claim is related to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and determined that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus. However, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the appellant's unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board found that the appellant's diabetes mellitus did not manifest during her period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and thus denied service connection. The kidney disease was also denied as a matter of law since there is no current service-connected condition to establish secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at a non-VA facility on April 23, 2012 was denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy was rated at 10 percent prior to June 27, 2011. The Board found that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of evidence of muscle wasting or atrophy.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of asbestos-induced pleural disease, reopening of service connection claims for various conditions, and TDIU/SMC have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 100% for his asbestos-induced pleural disease as of May 3, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, colon cancer, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or radiation. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under applicable regulations.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed to his death due to septic shock, and thus grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of regulation of activities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed, and thus the claims for an increased evaluation for hemorrhoids and service connection for diabetes are dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's renal failure with hemodialysis was not caused by VA care, and denied her claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in permanent and total disability that is due to the loss or loss of use of one or both lower extremities so as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. The Board grants entitlement to a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.