Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus are related to his service in Thailand during the Vietnam Era due to herbicide exposure, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the threshold criteria for TDIU, and his education, special training, and employment history are considered. The Board finds that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence as to whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II requires restricted diet, treatment with insulin, and regulation of activities. The RO granted a disability rating of 40 percent for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection remain pending.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on housebound status beyond December 1, 2012. He has a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent due to diabetes mellitus and its associated conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is currently evaluated at a 40 percent rating for the period prior to June 30, 2016. However, there is no evidence of additional disability warranting an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected chronic pancreatitis, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension all claimed due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's service records do not indicate any actual exposure to herbicide agents during his service.,Arthritis of the hands and back was also denied as it did not become manifest within one year of service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated during service, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The VA examiner concluded that the diabetes mellitus is less likely than not related to ionizing radiation exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes requires insulin and a restricted diet, but does not require regulation of activities. Therefore, the claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records from Social Security Administration.

The Board found that the Veteran's service on USS Saint Paul did not qualify for the presumption of herbicide exposure, and there is no evidence linking his current diabetes to service. As such, the claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address the Veteran's claims, including clarification of medical expenses and a determination of whether he required aid and attendance prior to his stroke.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for otitis media and service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, sleep apnea, ischemic heart disease, GERD, erectile dysfunction, renal failure, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and TDIU. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The case is now remanded to allow for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal concerning the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetic nephropathy, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and job skills. The Board granted entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, has been rated at 20 percent since December 20, 2004. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.