Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure during his active duty in Guam, is being remanded for further development including requests to the JSRRC.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted. The claim for hypertension remains pending as further examination and opinion are needed to determine its etiology.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause the need for aid and attendance, which has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded as the Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the likely dates of onset and etiologies of his diagnosed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's diabetes is related to his military service. The VA will need to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, GERD, and arthritis of multiple joints as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including adjudicating the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and considering both claims together as they are inextricably intertwined. The Veteran's appeal of sleep apnea will be deferred until the diabetes mellitus claim is resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including recurrent prostate cancer to groin and bladder, type II diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy, bilateral tinnitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atrophy of the right testicle, and erectile dysfunction associated with recurrent prostate cancer to groin and bladder, are found to be sufficient to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea is pending and will be addressed further.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these issues.,Service connection for lung cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, obesity, and a back disability have been granted. The effective date is set at April 27, 2012.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 40 percent effective November 26, 2013. Prior to that date, the disability was rated as 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and right eye glaucoma are not service-connected based on direct evidence of a connection to his military service. The Veteran did not have exposure to herbicides during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, eye disorder (blurred vision), and liver disorder were denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for PTSD was established as December 13, 2010.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to January 22, 2014.