Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in the Veteran's service, and thus did not grant service connection based on presumptive exposure. The Board also determined that diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and neuropathies of the lower extremities were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus (DM II), and PTSD, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional personnel records and determine if the Veteran served in Vietnam or its inland waterways for purposes of determining herbicide exposure. The claim will be readjudicated based on this new information.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has determined that a hearing should be scheduled at the earliest opportunity.

The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's current left shoulder disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II, and his military service. The Veteran's claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to a period of active duty or ACDUTRA and did not manifest within one year of separation from a period of active duty, thus denying service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a hysterectomy, chronic headaches (secondary to allergic rhinitis), diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and TDIU. The decision also addressed her claim for service connection for allergies but found it had already been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD, joint pain, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, sexual dysfunction, and depression are all found to be related to his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a PTSD examination, and completing a VA social and industrial survey.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the Veteran's service with the Army National Guard and Reserves, as well as opinions regarding potential exposure to herbicides and whether his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) was granted, with a current evaluation of 60 percent effective August 1, 2013. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been rated as 20 percent disabling since September 22, 2011.,The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus requires insulin use but does not require regulation of activities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II and as secondary to service-connected CAD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling an updated VA examination and obtaining his SSA records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for tachycardia (heart problems) and hypertension as they were withdrawn by the appellant during his hearing. The claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy due to diabetes mellitus, type II are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and secure substantial gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and prostate cancer residuals, needs further examination as the current VA examiner's opinion was internally inconsistent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus requires insulin, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities from February 11, 2009. The issues pertaining to peripheral neuropathy have been addressed with separate ratings assigned.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, including obtaining medical records and opinions as requested.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated higher than 10 percent, as his blood pressure readings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy and cataracts in both eyes is currently rated at 20 percent. A separate 20 percent rating has been granted for the visual impairment associated with the diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from 2003 to present. The Veteran's claims for service connection are related to herbicide exposure but no specific evidence of such exposure is provided.