Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, connective tissue disorder, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. However, no effective date was assigned as the increase in disability did not occur within one year of the receipt of the claim.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are service-connected. His heart disability is not service-connected, but the Board has requested additional development to determine if it is related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death from metastatic pancreatic cancer, and there is no link between his presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam and his cause of death. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran also has other service-connected conditions (diabetes and coronary artery disease) which do not meet the criteria for TDIU due to his current employment.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including determining the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Korea and verifying his service in a unit that was involved with such exposure. The AOJ should readjudicate the claim following completion of this development.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including obtaining dates of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) with the New Jersey National Guard. The Veteran's representative was also given an opportunity to review the claims file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, left and right lower sensory neuropathy, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating on the basis of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing all relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam during his active duty is presumed. The secondary service connection claim for peripheral vascular disease due to diabetes mellitus was also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hepatitis C.,There is no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has granted the appellant's request to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. A VA opinion is needed regarding whether diabetes mellitus played a role in the development of aspergillosis pneumonia, which was one of the factors that led to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, diabetic retinopathy, and hypertension, finding that these conditions were not related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted, and he is assigned a 30 percent evaluation. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is also granted. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, currently rated at 20 percent, remains unchanged.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and that his condition did not have its onset during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as the disability has been manifested by insulin dependence and a restricted diet but no need for regulated activities.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, impairment of central visual acuity caused by complications from diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of both hands. The Veteran's diabetes is rated at 40 percent, his vision disability at 10 percent, and each hand's neuropathy at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to verify his alleged herbicide exposure in Korea, as he served there but was not recognized as having been exposed during that time.

The Board found that the discontinuation of Plavix did not result in additional disability (death) and thus, denied the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to support his claims of secondary service connection for diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, nephropathy, and depression. The Veteran is also found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to incomplete information regarding his employment status and the need for further development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA opinion on the impact of service-connected disabilities on employability.