Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and meralgia paresthetica of the left thigh as secondary to a kidney disability. The Veteran's cervical spine (neck) disability is found to be related to his period(s) of active service. An initial compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and finds that he is entitled to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM), and found that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not incurred in active duty service. The Veteran's jaw disability appeal was withdrawn by him. No rating assigned due to lack of a final decision.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to his withdrawal of this claim. The remaining claims regarding PTSD and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's request. The claims of extraschedular rating, new and material evidence for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II, and TDIU are pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding his ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was granted due to his service-connected schizophrenia, which caused him to be unable to care for himself or protect himself from daily hazards.

The Board finds that the Veteran's fatigue, joint pain and myalgia are not due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. The symptoms are more likely related to his diagnosed conditions such as cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, wrist disability, diabetes with neuropathy, PTSD, and fibromyalgia.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides. As a result, he is not entitled to presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and low back disability were denied. The claim for an initial compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy prior to January 12, 2005, was also denied.

The Board found that the March 2011 statement was not a timely filed Notice of Disagreement and denied both issues. The motion for reversal or revision of the June 2009 rating decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and service connection are all denied as the evidence does not support a finding of exposure to herbicides or other conditions related to his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining dose estimates and referring the case to the Under Secretary for Benefits.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to DIC on the basis of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The porphyria cutanea tarda with pyoderma, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and tinnitus are all rated at their maximum levels.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of increased evaluations and service connection, leaving only the issue of new and material evidence to reopen a claim of hypercholesterolemia.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, claiming it is due to herbicide exposure during his military service at Robins Air Force Base. The VA has not verified this specific exposure claim and needs further investigation.