Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if he currently meets the criteria for Type II diabetes and whether his erectile dysfunction is related to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's current eye disorder (diabetic retinopathy and bilateral cataracts) is proximately due to, or aggravated by, his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Sinus polyps and nail fungus are not causally related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, rated at 70 percent disabling, has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The appellant is now the claimant and her appeals for increased ratings, earlier effective dates, and service connection have been withdrawn.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred during service or due to herbicide exposure, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran died from kidney cancer, which is not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicides during service and thus could not establish a presumption of service connection for his other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and respiratory condition due to the lack of a current diagnosis. The Veteran's claim is dismissed as moot because his TDIU claim was granted based on his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 14, 2005. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no confirmed exposure to herbicides during service and the disorder was not shown to be related to any in-service event, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The Veteran's prostate disability claim has been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus to his in-service exposure at Camp Lejeune or service. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to these exposures.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, impotence, and PTSD. The case is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

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, precluding locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. The claim for specially adapted housing has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to incomplete development, including failure to adjudicate certain referred issues. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating as his diabetes requires only insulin and an oral hypoglycemic agent.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated at 10 percent under DC 7522. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no indication of penile deformity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. The claim for service connection for a skin rash on the right and left legs is denied as there is no credible evidence of persistent or recurrent symptoms since service.

The Board denied service connection for right hip and knee disorders, metallic fragments in the left chest, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and diabetic dermopathy warrants a 100 percent disability rating since August 27, 2010. This decision is based on the need for more than one insulin injection each day, a restricted diet, regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities), weekly visits with a diabetic care provider, and complications that would be compensable if rated separately.