Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, hepatitis B, diabetes mellitus, and a sinus disability due to lack of evidence showing in-service exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's ship ran aground off the coast of Vietnam but did not serve on landmass or inland waterways.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issue before the Board at this time is entitlement to an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type 2, as secondary to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The appeal is being remanded due to the need to verify his assertions of in-country service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma. The claim for diabetes mellitus, type 2, is pending as the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while serving aboard USS Picking is not established.,Further investigation into the deck logs of USS Picking during the claimed Vietnam service period is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination in January 2014. The Veteran's diabetes is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and readjudication is required based on all evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II based on exposure to herbicide agents during the Vietnam era. The Veteran's left knee condition is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by his service-connected disabilities, including cold injury residuals and falls. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was congestive heart failure (CHF) due to coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, which meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. However, the evidence does not support a finding that he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of his presence in Vietnam and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a more contemporaneous and complete examination by a vocational specialist to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and heart disease were denied, as there is no evidence of a nexus to his military service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and the appellant B.A.P.S. could not be recognized as the surviving spouse due to her prior legal marriage to the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, warrants a 20 percent disability rating. The Board also found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and granted TDIU.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including service connection for hepatitis B, hypertension, diabetes, a mild heart attack, adjustment disorder, and a left eye disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities were denied. The current rating for type II diabetes is 20 percent, while the current rating for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is 40 percent.