Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer was denied as the evidence did not show that the condition occurred in service or due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for asthma and diabetes mellitus, type II were reopened based on new evidence received since the previous denial.,Service connection for hypothyroidism could not be established as there is no competent medical evidence linking it to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is less than the schedular percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus have been granted service connection, but the hypertension claim is denied. The initial rating for diabetes mellitus has been established at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus and colon cancer due to procedural errors in the handling of the Veteran's appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bronchitis, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU due to his combined rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 11, 2012 is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of coronary artery disease is granted and rated at 60 percent.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD with a depressive disorder is granted and rated at 50 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and eye disorder manifested by loss of sight, and these claims are reopened.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and eye disorder manifested by loss of sight, and these claims are reopened.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bradycardia is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left renal cyst is denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of August 29, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma, bilateral heel spurs with plantar fasciitis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were not incurred or aggravated in service. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and thus did not reopen the previously denied claim for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that a timely substantive appeal was not filed in response to the July 14, 2014 statement of the case denying service connection for prostate cancer (claimed as prostate condition), gout, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board found that diabetes mellitus was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and is not related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and hepatitis C have not met the criteria for a higher disability rating under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA eye examination and dose estimate of ionizing radiation exposure during service. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent since April 30, 2012. The rating remains unchanged prior to that date.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 and related peripheral neuropathy have been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that new evidence received since the prior final rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The Veteran's diabetes is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and depression medication Zyprexa, contributed to his cause of death due to septic shock and respiratory failure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes) was denied as there is no evidence that the condition had its onset during active service, or was caused by a service-connected disability.