Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's service in Vietnam was not confirmed, and thus exposure to herbicide agents cannot be presumed. The evidence does not show that the Veteran's DM was incurred or manifested within one year from separation of service. As such, the claim for service connection for DM is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, right Achilles tendon tear, left Achilles tendon tear, and GERD. The decision also addressed other issues such as increased ratings and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding service treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression, as the Veteran's current condition did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from active duty. The Board also denied service connection for right and left knee disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was also denied for type II diabetes mellitus because it first manifested more than a year after separation from service, and there is no evidence that the Veteran had diabetes during service or within one year post-service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is rated at 70 percent, and he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that he cannot secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his psychiatric impairments.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, to include as due to herbicide exposure, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a pulmonary disorder, to include as due to herbicide exposure, have been denied. The Board also found that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Veteran's hypertension was first noted years after separation from service, and his diabetes was not linked to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and glaucoma, both claimed as a result of exposure to Agent Orange (herbicides), are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has vacated the portion of its April 2017 decision that denied reopening the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Board also vacated the portion of its April 2017 decision that remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left leg conditions as secondary to residuals of post lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA medical examination and opinion to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment. The claim will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II and assigned a noncompensable rating. For diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, the Veteran received an initial compensable rating effective October 7, 2015.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of pseudophakic (cataracts), diabetes mellitus, type II associated with herbicide exposure, and erectile dysfunction. He also withdrew his claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy in both upper extremities as a result of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right lower extremity neuropathy has been granted.,Service connection is now established for bilateral upper extremity diabetic neuropathy and tinnitus secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the current record is incomplete and requires additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C. The secondary service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type 2; hypertension; and stroke are inextricably intertwined with the issue of severance of service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1805 or 38 U.S.C.A. § 1815, finding that she does not meet the eligibility requirements due to her father's service in Korea and lack of qualifying exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Veteran's Reserve service and providing medical opinions on various claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected conditions, including congestive heart failure. The cause of death listed on the revised death certificate was pneumonia.