Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is characterized by treatment requiring insulin and regulation of activities. However, the evidence does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent due to lack of complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding herbicide agent exposure, and requests additional records from the JSRRC.

This decision grants the Veteran's request for VA outpatient dental treatment. The Board denied service connection for left and right elbow disorders, cardiomyopathy, and denies initial ratings for rheumatoid arthritis, left foot calcaneal spur, hypertension, and GERD. Service connection is granted for depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence of treatment during service or a diagnosis related to service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, which he claims was caused by herbicide exposure. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine if the Veteran's MOS and alleged duties support his claim of herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the diabetes, TDIU, and SMC appeals due to incomplete service records and lack of private medical records. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service is also under review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability (torticollis) was previously denied in July 1971, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim.,Service connection for hyperlipidemia is not warranted as it does not constitute a recognized disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The appeal is now denied as new and material evidence has not been received.,Service connection for bilateral hand numbness is denied because there is no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in either upper extremity.,The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus type II remains at 10 percent, as the disability is manageable with a restricted diet alone. The appeal is denied.,Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities does not warrant a compensable rating due to lack of evidence showing the need for insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, or regulation of activities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened, and his initial disability rating for coronary artery disease prior to January 19, 2016 was denied. His initial disability rating for coronary artery disease since January 19, 2016 was granted at a 60 percent level. The Veteran's non-initial disability rating for PTSD remains at 50 percent. TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable and his diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent. Both conditions are denied for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while stationed at Nakhon Phanom Royal Air Force Base in Thailand, and therefore service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease on a presumptive basis.

The appeals for service connection of various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to the appellant's withdrawal. The issues of a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, TDIU, and the propriety of reducing the rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss are all remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and ischemic heart disease as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's proximity to the base perimeter during his service in Thailand was established, allowing for presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid tumor due to radiation exposure. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again as new evidence was submitted since their previous denials.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type II, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents, is denied because there is no evidence of in-service exposure and the condition was not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities aggravated his causes of death. The appellant is allowed to provide additional evidence and a new opinion will be sought from an examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's atrial fibrillation is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed appeals for lack of stamina, obstructive sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction. Appeals for hypertension (secondary to PTSD), kidney failure, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are remanded.

The Board dismissed all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's death.