Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, but granted service connection for hypertensive heart disease. Other claims were either not addressed or denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for an increased rating for diabetes and service connection for a heart disorder due to Agent Orange exposure. The claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in disability between August 25, 2009 and June 2, 2010.

The Veteran is entitled to reimbursement or payment for the costs of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a period of hospitalization from March 14 to March 20, 2012, at McLaren Lapeer Regional Medical Center due to a medical emergency involving a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and his erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus is also service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to schedule a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to reschedule a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO due to his absence from the previously scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the AOJ for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local VA office. The Veteran has requested a Board videoconference hearing, but his request was received prior to any Board consideration of his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam and therefore, diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to his service. However, there is no evidence linking any skin condition to his active duty service or herbicide exposure.

The case is being remanded to obtain addendum medical opinions that comply with the Board's December 2014 directives regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral leg amputation, and congestive heart failure. The appeal will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Prostate Cancer, and Hypothyroidism. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus type II and/or acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which requires insulin and a restricted diet but not regulation of activities. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent has been denied.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, concluding that the Veteran did not have in-service exposure to herbicides or any other conditions that would trigger a presumption of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability was found to be related to his military noise exposure, while there is no evidence of a chronic condition related to the laboratory finding of impaired fasting glucose that could be considered diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was initially rated at 10 percent prior to September 18, 2008. The rating was increased to 20 percent effective September 18, 2008 due to the use of an oral hypoglycemic agent (glyburide).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection for hypertension is granted.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.