Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that hypertension is as likely as not due to the service-connected diabetes, and thus grants service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for coronary artery disease was denied, and his TDIU claim prior to May 29, 2012, was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, preclude his substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that TDIU is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye disability, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in service and concluded that there was insufficient credible evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and diabetes mellitus due to Gulf War exposure. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II does not require regulation of activities to manage the condition, and therefore, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and review of the medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral, upper extremities as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and no current diagnoses were found.

The Veteran's Meniere's disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease are all presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam due to herbicide exposure. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and need for additional examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after all necessary steps are taken.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and emphysema based on herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claim of in-country service near or within the DMZ.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for VA treatment records and a medical examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 100 percent disabling, effective June 25, 2012. He also has ischemic heart disease rated at 60 percent and diabetes mellitus Type II rated at noncompensable since August 13, 2013.,From August 1, 2012 through August 12, 2013, the Veteran's combined rating is 100 percent due to his service-connected PTSD and ischemic heart disease.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's prostate cancer disability rating from 40% to 20% was improper and restored the original 40% rating. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 20%, which the Board determined insufficient for a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, pulmonary embolus, and deep vein thrombosis of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected hypothyroidism and sleep apnea. The claim will be denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, and migraines are not related to his active military service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, heart conditions, and hypertension were not related to service or service-connected disabilities. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. His erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran has a refractive error of the eyes, which is not considered a disease or injury for compensation purposes.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable prior to January 7, 2014. The Board finds that his service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.