Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not substantially caused by his service-connected diabetes, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates have been decided. The grant of CAD, TDIU, and DEA benefits are upheld with the effective dates set at November 9, 1999. However, the reduction in rating for left lower extremity neuropathy is found to be proper.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to his diabetes mellitus. The claim for secondary service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's claim for residuals, groin injury was reopened and granted service connection.,Service connection is granted for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type 2 due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection is granted for a right knee disability.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and readjudication, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance. The Board also found that there was no failure to treat sepsis during VA care.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings were denied. The Veteran was not granted higher ratings for sleep apnea or TBI, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The low back strain with generative disc disease is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to March 24, 2014 and 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, and hearing loss are all rated appropriately at their current levels.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including verification of herbicide exposure and a VA examination to determine the relationship between tinnitus and service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary prior to adjudication due to the lack of verified service in the Republic of Vietnam for presumptive service connection. The Veteran's claim will be remanded to obtain additional records and evidence from him.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address whether his service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus type II was denied. However, the Board granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities from June 28, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment since September 18, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart palpitations are not related to his service-connected hemorrhoids or any other in-service event.,There is no current diagnosis of a heart condition for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type II is granted due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The claim for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II remains pending.

The Veteran's asthma, which is service connected and rated at 60%, has precluded substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period. The criteria for a grant of TDIU secondary to asthma have been met.