Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including dizziness/somatization disorder and diabetes mellitus type II, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined effects of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability and diabetes mellitus due to asbestos exposure. The VA must investigate whether the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during his service, particularly while serving aboard the USS Ponchatoula from March 1975 to February 1977.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including left foot hammertoes and type II diabetes mellitus. The appeals are being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted service connection. Tinnitus is denied as not related to service. Hypertension is also denied as not related to service. Cardiovascular disorder (arteriosclerosis), kidney disorder, and diabetes mellitus are all denied on secondary basis.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not service-connected as it is believed to be due to his own drug abuse after service.,Diabetic retinopathy and diabetes mellitus were not diagnosed during the time of the Veteran's death, and thus cannot be service-connected.,Chloracne was found to have been incurred in service based on its recurrence post-service.,Peripheral neuropathy was not service-connected as it is believed to be due to Agent Orange exposure, but there is no evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's need for aid and attendance from another person could not be established.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the service connection claims, as well as for rating decisions on diabetes and related neuropathy.

The Veteran's cause of death, coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes, was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer, peripheral vascular disease, and low back strain are all found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to the service-connected diabetes.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and denied the claims for peripheral neuropathy of the left foot and right foot. Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent disability evaluation, effective from April 29, 2016. All other service-connected conditions remain unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension, which includes diabetic peripheral neuropathy as part of his diabetes mellitus, should be remanded to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service connection for type II diabetes and initial rating for major depressive disorder from June 17, 2005 to July 16, 2012 were denied. However, a rating of 70% was granted for his major depressive disorder beginning July 17, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with its October 2015 remand directives. The AOJ is required to complete the specific development requested in the Board's remand, including obtaining an expert opinion on herbicide exposure and a fact-based assessment of whether presence in a deep-water harbor constituted inland waterways for presumption purposes.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, retinal occlusion and chronic kidney disease. The Veteran's hypertension was remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,Service connection for residuals of left-sided cerebrovascular accident is also remanded as it may be related to his hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that COPD, diabetes mellitus, type II, and congestive heart failure were not related to his military service or service-connected skin cancer.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and deviated nasal septum were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10% disability rating. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and diabetes mellitus type II are denied as they do not meet the criteria for compensable ratings.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus based on herbicide exposure, cataracts secondary to diabetes mellitus, fungal infection secondary to diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than brief depressive disorder, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted because the evidence did not establish a link between any of these conditions and active duty.