Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service on liberty in Vietnam, and granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as a presumptive condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The Veteran's diabetes is also granted as secondary to his hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including heart condition, hypertension, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disability, and brain cyst. The claims are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right upper extremity disability has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death while the case was pending before the Board.

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus, eye disorder, and hypertension for further development. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are not currently decided.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are granted. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of these conditions related to in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service medical records and considering all relevant evidence. The Veteran's current disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DM II, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unemployable. The Board has granted TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as they are inextricably intertwined. Additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure while stationed at Korat Royal Thai Airbase.

The Board has denied ratings in excess of 20 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both left and right lower extremities prior to May 22, 2014. The case is being remanded for further development regarding service connection for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his functional impairments are not severe enough to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable effective July 13, 2011. The Board granted a TDIU based on the evidence showing his back and neuropathy disorders prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vision disorder (diabetic retinopathy), skin disorder, hypothyroidism, and hyperlipidemia have been denied. The claim for erectile dysfunction has also been denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for type II diabetes mellitus and separate ratings for erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board found that the diabetes did not meet criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating, as it was treated with insulin and oral medication without requiring regulation of activities. For erectile dysfunction, there was no evidence of penile deformity to warrant a separate compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The remaining issues have been remanded as additional evidence is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and depression, bilateral tinnitus, excessive weight gain and obesity, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus, left index finger condition (not diagnosed), neck pain, lower back pain, COPD, dizziness, and chronic UTI and incontinence have been granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking his conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus is at least as likely as not related to his treatment for borderline diabetes in service, and thus grants service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease have been granted.,Both conditions are presumed to be related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents.