Diabetes decisions — 2016

Service connection for PTSD and diabetic nephropathy with hypertension was granted, effective February 24, 2009.,A TDIU was granted effective from February 24, 2009.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The earlier effective date claim for diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypercholesterolemia as due to herbicide exposure, hypertension and swelling of the left leg secondary to diabetes mellitus has been reopened. His diabetes mellitus is rated at a 20 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type 2 and ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) are not related to his military service. The evidence did not support a finding of herbicide exposure or any other basis for presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service aboard the USS Jouett and is entitled to presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were granted, but the RO denied increased ratings from November 4, 2010 onwards.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and reconsideration of the earlier effective date claim for coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus, as well as the initial rating issue for a heart disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, stroke residuals, major depression, obesity, diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD, and a right leg/right foot disorder. The decision is based on the lack of evidence establishing a direct link between these conditions and military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for pancreatic cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2, and hypertension. The right elbow disability claim is reopened but the issue remains pending as new evidence does not establish a direct causal link to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, based on exposure to herbicide agents during his service aboard the USS Meyerkord. The claim is being remanded to obtain deck logs and ship histories from January 1973 through January 1975.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional medical opinions regarding his heart disability and diabetes mellitus claims. The VA will provide the necessary examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for thyroid cancer secondary to asbestosis, entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disability, entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for posttraumatic arthritis of the bilateral thumbs are addressed in the Remand section.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to service-connected conditions, and the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were not met.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, hearing loss, eye problems, dizziness, anxiety, depression, gout, diabetes mellitus (type II), and peripheral neuropathy have been granted. The effective date is not specified as the decision was issued in October 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension have been granted.,No ratings were increased or TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been rated at 20 percent since May 7, 2015.

The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed for possible service connection as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The current examination report may not have adequately addressed the relationship between these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, penile disability (including erectile dysfunction and Peyronie's disease), ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities were denied as there was no evidence to support a nexus between the disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, prostate enlargement, and bladder/urinary disorder are found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for separate compensable evaluations for residuals of diabetes mellitus (DM) as there was no factually ascertainable increase in severity within one year prior to his March 4, 2012 informal claim. The effective date for the grant of service connection and separate ratings is therefore not earlier than March 4, 2012.