Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, Diabetes Mellitus, and Peripheral Neuropathy) have rendered him unemployable since February 9, 2009. However, the Board denied entitlement to Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) as no single disability has caused his unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, presumed due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand, caused or contributed significantly to his urosepsis and death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has resulted in occupational and social impairment that warrants a 70 percent rating.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes, muscle spasms, or hypertension in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection on a direct basis.

The Veteran's claims for onychomycosis and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain his complete service medical records, including those from Okinawa, Taiwan, and the Philippines. The duty to assist is triggered because there is a possibility that the Veteran may have been exposed to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal during a Travel Board hearing, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, cataracts, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, and coronary artery disease with angina are presumed to be related to his military service due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity have been rated based on their severity. The ratings are granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or as a result of service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions to address the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims are currently before the Board.

The Veteran's right knee disability was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to March 29, 2017 and 20 percent thereafter. The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to July 17, 2014 as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes or service.

The Veteran's PVD is found to be at least as likely as not caused by or a result of his service-connected ischemic heart disease. The claim for service connection for PVD is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The case is REMANDED for the following actions: (1) Obtain SSA records and associate them with the claims file; (2) Schedule a VA examination to determine the etiology of hepatitis C, residuals of left hand injury, and residuals of head injury; (3) Schedule a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed acquired psychiatric disability. The case will be returned to the Board after all possible development has been completed.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for PTSD was received by VA on March 11, 2010. The Board finds that an effective date earlier than March 10, 2010, for the award of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with depressive disorder, not otherwise specified has not been met.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2. Therefore, service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service treatment records and VA examination reports. The case will be remanded to the AOJ for further action.