Diabetes decisions — 2017

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

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as his symptoms did not require regulation of activities.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction.,For the initial rating periods of pseudofolliculitis barbae (April 22, 2011 to present) and hemorrhoids (April 22, 2011 to December 22, 2015; and from December 22, 2015), the Veteran's disabilities have been rated as appropriate based on their severity.

The Veteran's bladder disorder is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and he is granted a rating of 40% for this condition effective August 15, 2011. The issue of TDIU prior to that date remains unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral diabetic retinopathy with bilateral macular edema was denied. The current disability rating is 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, including type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he meets the threshold schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and eye disorder (cataracts) were not incurred or aggravated during service, nor are they related to his service-connected hypertension and renal failure. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting dates of service in Vietnam and a need to review USS Lyman K. Swenson deck logs.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, which he contends is due to herbicide agent exposure during his time in Thailand, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish actual presence in Vietnam or exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hepatic failure, and liver cancer were not service-connected due to lack of evidence in his service records. The Board determined that these conditions did not have a direct link to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of September 2, 2011. Prior to that date, the criteria for a schedular TDIU were not met.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus required insulin and a restricted diet, but not regulation of activities. The disability has been rated at 20 percent since September 28, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits, to include aid and attendance, was pending at the time of his death in May 2010. The Board found that the Veteran met the requirements for accrued benefits as he had a need for aid and attendance due to his terminal illness and required care from an assisted living facility.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of all appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and testicular cancer were denied as there was no verified in-country service, the conditions did not manifest during or within one year of separation from service, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Hodgkin's lymphoma, a skin disability (noncancerous), and diabetes mellitus, type 2 have been denied as there is no competent evidence of record linking these conditions to his military service.,There was no exposure to herbicides or ionizing radiation in the Veteran's service. The Veteran did not provide credible evidence that he had exposure to cleaning solvents, fuel, or DDT during service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction as a timely Substantive Appeal was not received.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support service connection for schizophrenia, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, or osteoarthritis of the left knee. The Veteran's claims are denied.