Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II, is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claim for labile blood pressure/hypertension was reopened and remains pending.

The Veteran is granted a separate 40 percent rating for urinary frequency secondary to diabetes mellitus, effective from the date of the decision. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of a disability rating greater than 20 percent for service-connected insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and a VA examination. The remaining issues on appeal will be addressed after these matters have been resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, strokes, diabetic cystopathy (claimed as bladder dysfunction), peripheral vascular disease, and depression have not been decided.,Service connection has also been denied for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea claims are being remanded for further development. The left shoulder disability, dyshidrosis, chest pain, chronic bronchitis, and chronic headaches claims are also being remanded due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating.,Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left feet are each rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that they do not warrant increased ratings as the symptoms are no more than moderate in degree.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims. The Veteran was also denied entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and ischemic heart disease.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred during service, may not be presumed to have been incurred therein, and is not secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes disability has not required regulation of activities, and he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has granted the Veteran's increased rating for scars of the right leg, right back, and metallic foreign body in the left hand. The case is remanded to obtain an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran is entitled to a separate compensable rating for limitation of function of the left thumb due to service-connected left hand scar.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted, and he is now eligible for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities. The diabetes mellitus, type II, along with other service-connected conditions such as peripheral neuropathy and Dupuytren's contracture, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation was at least 70% prior to July 28, 2015. The evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed, including obtaining deck logs for the USS Thomaston in March 1975.

The Board has ordered additional examinations to determine the severity of ischemic microvascular disease and a nerve disability of the left lower extremity, as these conditions are related to diabetes mellitus type II. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus was denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and the disease did not have its onset during service or within a year after discharge. The claim for TDIU due to left knee disability is addressed separately.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the appellant was exposed to herbicides during service at Fort Chaffee and has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and type II diabetes mellitus. As these conditions are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus type II to his military service or service-connected disabilities, and thus denied the claim for service connection.