Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board finds that none of his conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service. The cause of death was determined to be hepatitis C resulting in acute renal failure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated as 20 percent disabling throughout the claims period from March 17, 2004. Separate ratings of 10 percent for each lower extremity prior to June 3, 2006 are granted.,Separate ratings of 20 percent for each lower extremity from June 3, 2006 to December 2, 2008 are granted. Ratings of 40 percent for each lower extremity from December 3, 2008 to December 12, 2012 are granted.,Separate ratings of 60 percent for each lower extremity from December 13, 2012 are granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete development of certain claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease (IHD), hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied due to lack of exposure to herbicides in service and no current symptoms related to these conditions.

The Board determined that the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor are they related to a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse resulted in occupational and social deficiencies, warranting a 70 percent rating. The Veteran also meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development related to his claims of service connection, particularly regarding exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Guam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service. The uterine fibroids that led to her hysterectomy are considered a separate disability from those noted during service. Chest pain is determined to be a chronic condition not related to the Veteran's service-connected GERD or other disabilities. Drug-induced hepatitis and/or hepatotoxicity is found to be secondary to medication for hypertension.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed due to service, and his bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are also presumed secondary to the diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated as 50 percent disabling since August 31, 2010. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating and the TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a video conference hearing before the Board. The Veteran's claims of new and material evidence for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his rating claims for early degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the diabetes mellitus and bilateral foot disorder claims, and his tinnitus claim was found not to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 29, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus type II with mild renal insufficiency and hypertension has been withdrawn.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities aggravated the conditions that caused or contributed to his death, including ARDS, pneumonia, diabetes, and heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and attempting to corroborate the Veteran's reported helicopter flight from the USS Oriskany to Danang airbase in 1973.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine/low back disorder, colon disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The new and material evidence claims have also been denied.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus is not entitled to presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of exposure to herbicide agents during service or any link between these conditions and service.