Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes were not incurred or aggravated by service, as they existed prior to his entry into military service. The Veteran was not shown to have aggravation of these conditions during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a skin disorder (claimed as actinic keratoses) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicides in Korea, and there is no direct evidence connecting the current diagnoses to his time in service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including an addendum opinion on the etiology of glaucoma and a SOC regarding the rating for anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus during the October 2015 hearing. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and bilateral leg disability, secondary to a service-connected seizure disorder, are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to his Vietnam-era service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition. For the other issues, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension, additional evidence is needed as they are not clearly related to service or presumptive exposure. A respiratory disability claim based on asbestos exposure will be addressed after obtaining updated medical records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 20 percent, which reflects the need for restricted diet and oral medication. The issues of service connection for hypertension, evaluation of pseudofolliculitis barbae, and PTSD prior to March 3, 2004 are all granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicides and additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

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

The Veteran's cardiac arrhythmia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with valvulopathy are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran is granted a higher initial rating for diabetic macular edema, but the appeal is denied as there is no evidence of active pathology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and sleep apnea, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's chloracne is presumed to be due to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange. However, there is no evidence of diabetes mellitus, type II, and the claim for this condition was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residual abdominal adhesions, status postoperative gallbladder surgery is granted. The Board finds that the December 2015 VA examination is inadequate to decide the claim and a remand is necessary for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim. The case is being remanded for further examination to determine if there is any relation between these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider the claims of service connection and increased rating, including a VA examination for urethral discharge (gonorrhea) and herpes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI with vertigo, nausea and headaches, COPD, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED), and left hand disability are all denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 20 percent due to lack of regulation of activities and no episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization or twice-monthly medical visits. The Veteran's complaints of short-term memory issues, dizziness, confusion, and low energy were less likely related to his service-connected diabetes.