Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a statement from the JSRRC regarding environmental contamination studies of Camp Casey. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus during service or within one year after separation, and concluded that the Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied as the RO did not receive his formal claim within one year of the February 2010 request.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional verification of his service, updated authorization for release of private medical records, and VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which resolved in favor of granting SMC based on aid and attendance prior to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and diabetes mellitus as they are not related to his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and background. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to TDIU are not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The Board also denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for gastric ulcer disability and entitlement to TDIU due to service connected gastric ulcer disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus requires insulin and a restricted diet, but not regulation of activities. The current rating is 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to September 24, 2008 was denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the minimum threshold requirement for an award of TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent as it is currently manifested by insulin and restricted diet without regulation of activities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's peripheral artery disease is caused or worsened by his diabetes.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 60 percent from February 24, 2014. The Board finds that referral for extraschedular consideration for the period since June 2009 is not warranted as the Veteran is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by sedentary jobs.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a higher rating of 20 percent effective October 7, 2013. Service connection for left ankle disorder, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss were all granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the failure of the Veteran to report to scheduled VA examinations. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes and renal cell carcinoma, status-post left nephrectomy. The evidence shows that the Veteran had in-country service in Vietnam during his active duty as a COD pilot, which is presumed to have exposed him to herbicide agents. As such, he is entitled to presumptive service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings were denied. The bilateral eye disability, atherosclerotic coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are all rated at their maximum levels.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides, thus denying service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and Parkinson's disease.