Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the service connection for hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus type II. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a DRO hearing due to the Veteran's request. The appeal is not yet decided on its merits.

The Veteran's hypertension, LBBB, disability of both arms and hands, and disability of both hips and feet are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examination to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and its complications, including diabetic neuropathy. The TDIU benefit will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has granted a separate compensable rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, as his blood pressure readings consistently met the criteria for such a rating.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have in-country service or documented exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. Therefore, his claim for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during service and therefore, his diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are not service-connected.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy were granted service connection effective August 29, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as the issues were not timely filed and must be dismissed due to lack of a proper claim.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been rated based on the need for insulin and a restricted diet or oral hypoglycemic agent, with no additional complications warranting higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Guillain-Barre syndrome and Type II diabetes mellitus are not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied these claims. The Board also found no evidence of a current disability for other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including consideration of new evidence from VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II associated with herbicide exposure was granted. For PTSD, the rating assigned prior to May 15, 2014, is in excess of 50 percent and since then is in excess of 70 percent. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective before May 14, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted due to herbicide exposure. The claim for prostate cancer is also granted as it may be related to the conceded herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of hypertension was denied, and his previously denied claim for service connection for diabetes due to hypertension was not reopened.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for renal failure, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2. The Board has determined that additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied. The prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction has already received the maximum schedular rating, and diabetes is rated at 20 percent due to its current manifestations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM), coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), erectile dysfunction (ED), and hypertension are all attributable to service. The conditions were presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and addressing the collective impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his disability picture.