Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling an examination. The Veteran's claim of a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus is currently before the Board.

The Board found no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, has been rated at 20 percent since January 2010. The coronary artery disease is rated at 30 percent. No compensable rating for erectile dysfunction due to diabetes mellitus was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetic retinopathy were denied. The claim for a higher rating for diabetic retinopathy was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims for increased ratings for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II, as well as a TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and determining if he was exposed to Agent Orange during service. The case is therefore being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal for initial evaluations and an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus type II was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding herbicide exposure at Takhli RTAFB.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's polyneuropathy is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and Type II diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, which he claims was caused by exposure to herbicide agents during his tour in Thailand. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the potential for herbicide exposure and remands the case for further action.

The Board has denied reopening the claims for diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic osteoarthropathy of the right ankle as no new and material evidence was submitted to link these conditions to service.

The Veteran's skin lesions on the feet are rated as non-compensable (0%) since they do not affect at least 5% of his entire body or exposed areas.,From January 23, 2006 to July 29, 2011, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated as 20%, and from July 29, 2011 onwards it remains at 20%

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 40 percent since January 27, 2017. Prior to that date, the disability was not rated higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy with tremors and muscle rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease is rated at 40 percent since August 3, 2011. The left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy with tremors and muscle rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease is rated at 30 percent from March 3, 2015 onwards. The right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy with tremors and muscle rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease is rated at 20 percent since August 3, 2011. The left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy with tremors and muscle rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease remains at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board also found that diabetes mellitus is not proximately due to, or aggravated by, a service-connected disease or injury.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was withdrawn. The Board denied the claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II and associated diabetic neuropathy as his condition did not require regulation of activities to control.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, specifically whether his use of PTSD medications and other service-connected conditions contribute to his condition.

The Board found that diabetes mellitus type 2 did not originate in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's active service. The peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet were determined to be the result of cold injury during the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure is granted based on the presumption of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions listed.