Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Veteran is granted a TDIU prior to March 30, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his claimed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Board will attempt to corroborate his lay statements and provide an adequate statement of reasons for bases.

The Veteran's claims for asthma and obstructive sleep apnea were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for diabetes mellitus, type II, was granted with a rating of 100% effective from the date of death.,The claims for neurodegenerative disease (including ALS and PSP) and PTSD/Depression were also granted with a rating of 100%, effective from the date of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and rheumatoid arthritis due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's PTSD was rated as 50 percent disabling but not in excess of that level.

The Veteran's kidney dysfunction is not service-connected, as his current diagnosis of medullary sponge kidney with recurrent urinary calculi and polycystic kidney disease was not caused by his diabetes.,His diabetes has been rated at 60% since February 17, 2004, and at 10% for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity since March 17, 2008.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and chronic kidney disease are being remanded for further development to determine if they are proximately due or aggravated by her service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is not related to his service and the Board finds that he did not serve in Vietnam or have exposure to herbicide agents. Therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The VA determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to a verified in-service stressor, and service connection for PTSD is granted. The claims of alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis abuse are also granted as they are considered new and material evidence that supports the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, and an acquired psychiatric disability (severe psychotic depression and/or posttraumatic stress disorder) due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not include a disability rated as permanent and total, thus he does not meet the legal criteria for entitlement to specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is etiologically related to his active service. The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) proximately due to or the result of his service-connected conditions, including coronary artery disease and type II diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Project SHAD test agents, which is necessary to decide his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, gastrointestinal disorder (gastritis), and alopecia were not incurred in service.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's multiple disabilities, including his vision disorders and other health conditions, have resulted in him needing regular aid and attendance from another person since September 8, 2016. His income does not exceed the maximum annual pension rate for nonservice-connected disability pension.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative withdrew their claims prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within one year after separation from service. The Board also found that there is insufficient medical nexus to support a direct relationship between the Veteran's period of service and his current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from performing gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him prior to August 5, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding in-patient treatment records from Thailand and Clark AFB. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 with visual complications remains pending.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. However, it was determined that diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service.