Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and stroke residuals are not shown to be related to his active service.,There is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service in Diego Garcia and Puerto Rico.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed due to herbicide exposure during service. The Board grants an earlier effective date for renal disease with coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease, as the Veteran qualifies as a Nehmer class member.

The Board finds that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced on whether the Veteran's diabetes was caused by the use of Celebrex for his service-connected residuals of Ross River virus with multiple joint arthritis. As such, the claim will be granted as secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and the issue is dismissed.

The Veteran is requesting a review of the February 2002 rating decision that denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has remanded this case to allow for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since March 2014, and the RO denied an increased rating.,The Veteran's sleep apnea associated with diabetes mellitus type II was not found to warrant a higher than 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding exposure to herbicides and aviation fuel during service.

The Board found that the Veteran had in-country service in Vietnam, presumptively exposing him to herbicides. As a result, he is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran met the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of May 18, 2009, and his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated during his period of service and is not otherwise related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is linked to his time in active duty.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and type II diabetes mellitus, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination for his claimed headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed respiratory disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, or hypertension related to his active duty service. The evidence is against a finding of an etiological relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not shown during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the claim for service connection must be denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be adjudicated on the merits. Specifically, VA treatment records from April 2014 to the present and medical records from Doctors' Center Hospital in Manat�, Puerto Rico, as well as from Guillermo Armaiz, M.D., in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico are requested.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus and service connection for diabetic nephropathy, a noncompensable complication of his diabetes, is being remanded. Additionally, the TDIU issue is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the evaluation of the diabetic nephropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and an unclear opinion regarding the Veteran's diabetes diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as due to exposure to herbicides and remanded the matter of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus on any basis other than as due to exposure to herbicides to the RO, via the AMC, for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a current disability. The TDIU claim was granted based on his combined schedular rating of 70% due to multiple disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.