Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for heart condition, type II diabetes mellitus, and eye disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to exposure to herbicides at Avon Park Air Force Base and Range. The VA will obtain additional records, verify exposures, and provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The Veteran also does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, sleep apnea, and depression. The appeal for secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his diabetes mellitus, asthma, sleep apnea, COPD, emphysema, PTSD with major depressive disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia, coccidioidomycosis, back degenerative disc disease, and angular glaucoma claims are all REMANDED.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for PTSD is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted, as the evidence shows that his current hypertension may be related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and peripheral neuropathies, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and the cause of death (brainstem herniation due to cerebellar hemorrhage) is not related to his service-connected conditions. The Board denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current type II diabetes mellitus is presumptively related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including consideration of service connection claims for a psychiatric disorder and hypertension. The decision regarding bilateral upper extremity neuropathy remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disease and diabetes mellitus, as well as the claim for a compensable rating for low back disability due to exposure to herbicide agents. Additional development is needed including obtaining records from private providers, assessing proximity of runways to base perimeter, and conducting an orthopedic examination.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as it did not begin during or due to service. The Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes was found prior to his separation from service and is not related to any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which requires insulin and a restricted diet. The Board found that the condition does not require regulation of activities to be managed effectively.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; ischemic heart disease; bilateral foot peripheral neuropathy; and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied as the evidence does not support a relationship between his current disabilities and his military service.,Service connection cannot be granted based on herbicide exposure, as there is no credible evidence that he was exposed to such agents during his service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased ratings for diabetes, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Board denied claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's diagnoses were not related to his military service.