Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and arteriosclerotic heart disease, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure or a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are related to his military service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 6, 2013. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for the service connection of various conditions has been dismissed as there is no valid claim to consider due to the finality of previous decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, but had a current diagnosis of prostate cancer presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, diabetes mellitus, and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.,There is no diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and the Veteran does not have a current disability that would warrant an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities were rated at 100% and he had not been employed since 1979, making the grant of TDIU moot.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has been rated at 20 percent since November 2006. Effective August 2015, the rating is increased to 40 percent.,Service connection for hypertension was denied as not due to herbicide exposure or being secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,Service connection for hepatitis A has been denied.,Service connection for a skin disorder has been denied.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression and trypanophobia) has been denied. Service connection was granted for PTSD, but the Veteran's claim for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to PTSD remains pending.,Service connection for alcoholism as secondary to PTSD has not been established.,TDIU was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a hearing and providing a statement of the case regarding the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus, as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction has been rated at 20 percent since October 2002. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his diabetes requires insulin and a restricted diet but does not require regulation of activities to control it.

The Veteran's claim for non-service connected pension with special monthly pension benefits prior to August 17, 2015 is granted. The Board found that the Veteran did not have excessive net worth and was in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, claimed as a result of herbicide exposure, was denied because there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the condition did not manifest within one year of discharge. The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in inland waterways of Vietnam and thus could not establish presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, coronary artery disease, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a heart disorder. The Veteran's claims were not granted.,There is no evidence of diabetes mellitus during or after service. Hypertension was diagnosed in 2003, over 16 years post-service. There is no link between the current diagnosis of hypertension and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Decision Review Officer (DRO) and a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure, and his hepatitis C is presumed to be related to service. The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to establish direct service connection for either condition.

The Board is requesting additional evidence to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in-service, which could potentially grant service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the diabetes claim, and that the Veteran's current conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.