Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 1, which was diagnosed during active service, did not preexist his entry into service. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve or visit on the ground, on a ship at dock or on the inland waterways of Vietnam. Therefore, there is no presumption of exposure to herbicide for service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service and therefore grants service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and lung cancer as presumptively related to such exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II with an initial rating of 20 percent. The Veteran's diabetes requires oral agents and a restricted diet but does not require insulin or limitation of activities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes symptoms such as flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, and difficulty in understanding complex commands, has been rated at 70 percent since February 1, 2011. The effective date for the increased rating is set to February 1, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to lack of in-service exposure and no evidence linking it to service. The claim for a pulmonary disability was also denied as there is no evidence of such condition during service or within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Type II diabetes mellitus are presumed to be related to his service due to herbicide agent exposure. The enlarged prostate is not shown to have had its onset in or is otherwise related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment prior to February 13, 2017.

The Board has granted a 40% evaluation for diabetes mellitus, effective October 15, 2012. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied.

The Board has found in favor of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right ankle tendonopathy and left lower extremity sciatica. However, it has found against his claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and neuropathy with left arm pain.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to military service and he has been granted service connection for this condition. The claim for migraine headaches was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the claimed disorder, and the diabetes mellitus claim is remanded due to a need for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy was properly severed, and denied a higher rating for his diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Sleep Apnea, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for Hypertension. The earlier effective date claim for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand and thus entitled to presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are granted, with the presumption of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam being used as a basis for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran served in Vietnam during his Thailand tour of duty and is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. The medical evidence shows that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is compensably disabling, thus service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II is granted on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's skin disorder, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are not service-connected as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment and personnel records from his Enlisted Reserve Corps service.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during military service in Thailand.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure.