Diabetes decisions — 2017

The combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, produce sufficient impairment to make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral below-the-knee amputations, but the claims are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service-connected diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and impotence. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea is presumed due to his service in a unit operating near the demilitarized zone. Service connection is granted for these conditions as they are presumed related to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II, both claimed as due to in-service Agent Orange exposure, are being remanded for further development. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's alleged Agent Orange exposure, particularly between July 6, 1966 and August 29, 1966, and determine if he had 'regular and repeated contact' with C-123 aircraft so as to warrant a finding of likely in-service herbicides exposure, to include Agent Orange. The AOJ should also obtain any outstanding VA treatment records since December 2015.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and outstanding evidence, including the Veteran's service discharge certificate and medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and to schedule a VA examination for his diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service connection claims for CAD, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, prostate cancer, and ED secondary to prostate cancer are granted with effective dates prior to June 19, 2015.,The effective date for each claim is March 31, 2011.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction are all found to be related to his service-connected hypertension. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hepatitis (claimed as liver disorder), lung disorder, heart disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The decision found no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to PTSD. However, the request to reopen the claim for diabetes mellitus is still pending and its status remains unknown.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to lack of evidence during the appeal period.,Service connection was not granted as there is no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in either upper or lower extremities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective January 27, 2012, as he met the schedular criteria for a combined disability rating of 70 percent due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and multiple neuropathies, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities has been granted a higher rating, with specific ratings for each affected nerve.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, chronic right arm rotator cuff disability, degenerative joint disease of the right elbow, and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome contributed substantially in bringing about his death. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease are not service-connected as they were not present during or within one year after his military service. The VA examiners have provided opinions indicating these conditions are not related to his service or service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease, stroke, and diabetic cystopathy as there was no objective diagnosis in the record. The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently manifested by insulin dependence and a restricted diet but not requiring regulation of activities. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating than 20 percent.