Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, is found to have had its onset during active duty service and the Board grants direct service connection. The initial disability rating for residuals of a deep wound to the left thigh, Muscle Group (MG) XV, remains unchanged.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and thus could not establish service connection for diabetes mellitus or peripheral neuropathy on a presumptive basis. The Veteran's claims were denied.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy has not caused incapacitating episodes, central visual acuity worse than 20/40 corrected distance vision in either eye, or impairment of visual fields. Therefore, a separate compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and verifying exposure to Agent Orange. A VA examination is also required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type II is granted, as it meets the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide agent exposure during his Vietnam-era service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II with bilateral lower peripheral neuropathy associated with herbicide exposure is denied.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no new and material evidence to support the Veteran's claim. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression with anxiety, ischemic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, right leg peripheral arterial disease, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicides in service and his claim is not supported by competent evidence. Service connection for GERD with a hiatal hernia remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during service and is presumed to have been exposed. The Veteran's current diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus meets the criteria for presumptive service connection based on this exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and service, except for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for TDIU have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been granted a 40% rating effective April 29, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD at least as likely as not renders him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he meets the schedular requirements for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to November 30, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a vision disability. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is presumed due to his exposure to herbicide agents, which supports presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for IgG4 autoimmune disease, increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and right eye corneal scarring, and an earlier effective date for the right eye corneal scarring have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his skin disability.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether diabetes mellitus, type II, was incurred in the Veteran's active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted.