Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, dental condition, and diabetes mellitus due to missing records from St. John Episcopal Hospital in Queens and an incomplete examination regarding his dental condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus requires insulin, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities. The disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there are no episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalizations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions (coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board has remanded the claim for low back disability to the AOJ.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, type II or pulmonary fibrosis in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Thailand and whether he is entitled to presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus with heart disease, renal dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to such exposure.

The Veteran is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and his service connection for this condition is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was found to have been caused or permanently aggravated by his military service.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, both due to exposure to herbicide agents including Agent Orange, is granted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes did not have its onset in service, was not manifested to a compensable degree within one year of service, and was not caused by or otherwise related to active service. The Veteran's headaches were also denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension, secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II and granted service connection on an aggravation basis.

The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a heart disability, but denied these claims on the merits. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied as there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or other residuals that warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertensive heart disease is rated at 60 percent disabling, effective March 14, 2011. The rating for diabetes mellitus type 2 remains at 20 percent. The right eye corneal scar continues to be rated at 30 percent. Service connection was granted for erectile dysfunction and skin disability, but not for prostate disability or obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is related to his service-connected diabetes, and the Board grants service connection for OSA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand, and therefore diabetes mellitus and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are presumed to be related to this exposure. As such, these conditions are granted as service connected.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and increased ratings for his right knee disability. The Board has ordered a new examination to address the nature and likely cause of his diabetes, as well as an orthopedic examination to determine the current severity of his postoperative right knee disability.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea and small airways dysfunction/reactive airways disease, is not related to active service or due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained multisymptom illness.,There is no evidence of diabetes mellitus during active service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal involves three issues: increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and coronary bypass surgery, as well as service connection for sleep apnea. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records from the VA.