Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection. The claims for service connection for headache disorder and heart disorder are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from July 31, 2007. Service connection for diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction has also been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since June 29, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's diabetes caused his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during service at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD, CAD, DM, and residuals of a right foot injury. The decision grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension with renal insufficiency, type II diabetes mellitus, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of 70 percent for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's liver disorder and diabetes mellitus did not manifest in service, were not continuous since service, were not shown to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, and are not etiologically related to his active service.,Service connection for the Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver was denied as it is not etiologically related to his active service. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was also denied as it is not secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, PAD, RLS, and diabetes mellitus, type II have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, requesting information from SSA regarding disability benefits, and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed all related claims.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU prior to October 6, 2014 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted with an effective date of June 10, 2008. The Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities and inability to work.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran was present on the landmass of Vietnam during his service, which supports a finding of presumptive service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral foot diabetic neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral retinopathy is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed bilateral foot disorder.