Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and thus denying the claim.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension and hypertensive nephrosclerosis prior to July 30, 2015 has been granted. From July 30, 2015, the Veteran is rated at 60 percent for his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II has been manageable by a restricted diet only throughout the appeal period. The Board continues to grant a 10 percent rating for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is found to have its onset during active duty service, and the Board finds entitlement to direct service connection for diabetes mellitus is warranted. The issues of a skin disorder, thoracolumbar disorder rating, and hearing loss in the left ear are also remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is rated at 40 percent since March 11, 2015. His hypertension was found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a liver cyst or liver disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide addendum opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss, left hand/wrist injury residuals, and diabetes mellitus. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's stroke and its residuals are proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, warranting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no credible evidence of a relationship between his current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus has been rated at 40 percent since February 10, 2006. The RO found clear and unmistakable error in the July 2014 rating decision and granted an even earlier effective date of February 10, 2006.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy (heart conditions), diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, thus granting a TDIU.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, including those for diabetes mellitus and its secondary effects on the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, nephropathy, erectile dysfunction, and retinopathy. The claim for a TDIU is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70% since September 1, 2016. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and an eye disorder other than diabetic retinopathy (presumed to be glaucoma). He was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disorder, heart disorder and hypertension, prostate disorder, and thyroid disorder, were not related to his active service. The evidence did not establish a nexus between any of these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the relationship between his diagnosed hemorrhagic pancreatitis and/or diabetes mellitus and his military service or any incident therein, to include presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period from December 28, 2009 to September 30, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and better copies of his service medical records. An environmental toxicologist will be consulted to determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his active duty at Fort Braggte in 1964.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served on and around the perimeter of U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. As a result, he is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during his service. The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnoses of ischemic heart disease (including coronary artery disease) and diabetes mellitus are associated with this exposure.