Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for a TBI and remanded the remaining claims due to need for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected diabetes and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for non-service-connected disability pension because he did not serve during a period of war, which is a requirement for eligibility.

The Veteran's diabetes requires oral hypoglycemic agents and a restricted diet, but does not require regulation of activities. Therefore, the current 20% rating is appropriate.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service, including exposure to chemicals. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus type II is service-connected, as it was present during his active duty and is related to his military service.

The Board has received additional medical records and is remanding the case for further review by the AOJ. The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, obesity (to include as secondary to hyperthyroidism), erectile dysfunction, and TDIU are on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for DM and PTSD, as well as for low back disability. The Veteran's other claims are pending further development.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for hepatitis C was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a BVA videoconference hearing. The claims of service connection, effective date determinations, and special monthly compensation are all pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his attorney.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was rated at 20 percent from November 16, 2009 to January 17, 2011 and increased to 40 percent from January 18, 2011 to July 15, 2013. From July 16, 2013 forward, the Veteran is rated at 60 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in functional impairment that causes him to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person due to his inability to dress, feed himself, and perform activities of daily living without assistance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and readjudication, including obtaining records from SSA, VA treatment records, and opinions regarding exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disease of the cervical spine, PTSD, degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, diabetes mellitus type II, left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and residual scars, rendered him unable to care for himself. The Board found that he required regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD, compression fracture at L2 of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease, left otitis media with ruptured tympanic membrane, left saphenous nerve entrapment, or bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, and obesity, as well as the earlier effective date for depression. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including identifying specific aircraft he serviced during his active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective March 18, 2015. The rating for PTSD has been granted and the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.