Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The July 2016 VHA opinion concluded that the Veteran's cardiovascular problems were not related to his military service and that his chronic anxiety disorder was less likely than not a contributory cause of his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address issues of service connection and effective dates, as well as a sleep apnea examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for more current VA examinations of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, diabetes mellitus and adenocarcinoma of the prostate with impotence.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, updated treatment records, and further development of his claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not manifest during service or within a year of separation, and is not attributable to service. The Board also found that his current vision disability was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone has prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since February 26, 2010. Additionally, the combination of his service-connected disabilities (including PTSD) has resulted in a combined schedular rating of 70 percent effective February 26, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during his service and finds that he meets the criteria for presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus Type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension may be related to his active duty service, but further development is needed to determine if these conditions were present within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and erectile dysfunction, have been granted. He is also granted SMC at the housebound rate.,Initial ratings of 20 percent each for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral vision loss, a psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder), chronic headaches, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis of the right shoulder, arthritis of the left shoulder, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, arthritis of the right knee, arthritis of the left knee, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they preclude substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type II, including consideration of herbicide exposure. The AOJ will determine if the USS Bridgett was stationed in inland waterways of Vietnam during the Veteran's service.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and found that new and material evidence has been submitted. The specific theory of service connection is not specified in the decision summary.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim was denied as there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury and no credible evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as the evidence did not show regulation of activities.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of prostate cancer was denied as he did not require absorbent materials or have recurrent urinary tract infections.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was denied as there was no evidence of removal of half or more of the penis, removal of the glans, or deformity of the penis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a heart disorder (to include a heart attack), finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus and PTSD, finding that his conditions did not warrant higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is not related to his military service or any incident therein. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, have not been met.,Regarding ischemic heart disease, the claim has yet to be developed and/or adjudicated on a secondary causation basis.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's fatal cardiac arrest and/or diabetes were caused or aggravated by exposure to toxic chemicals in service, an additional disability (or medication taken for such), or his service-connected left and right shoulder arthritis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left shoulder disability, elevated blood sugar (including diabetes mellitus), hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy are granted on the basis of presumptive exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The effective date is not specified.