Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, frozen left thumb condition, bilateral hammertoes, and bilateral hallux valgus are all granted service connection. Service connection for pes planus is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found insufficient evidence to support a direct link between the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus and active duty service, and concluded that he did not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's pancreatic cancer is granted service connection, but his hypertension and diabetic nephropathy are denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetic nephropathy is set at November 30, 2007. His diabetes mellitus type II remains rated at 20 percent, while his diabetic nephropathy is rated at 60 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including tinnitus and multiple cardiovascular conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and DMII, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.,The Board also denied an increased rating for left ear hearing loss as the disability is currently noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing herbicide exposure. The hypertension claim was remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected sleep apnea and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus warranting a TDIU rating. The increased rating claim for the right tibia and fibula fracture is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, are likely to render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy is rated at 60 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes, CAD, bilateral lower extremity PVD and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities with an effective date of July 6, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of herbicide agent exposure and no chronic disease in service or within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral eye condition, Type II diabetes mellitus (DM II), and hysterectomy due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's DM II claim is related to her active duty service, but a VA examination is needed to determine its onset date. For the eye condition and hysterectomy claims, a VA examination is also required to assess their relationship with service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied and his claim for TDIU had an effective date set at January 24, 2011. The Board found that the June 2009 denial of TDIU became final and thus no earlier effective date could be granted.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to service or due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). Service connection was denied for all conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes are not rated higher than the current levels. The Board has remanded for further examination to determine if a back disorder is related to service, as well as an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability.

The appeals regarding service connection and earlier effective dates for various disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) with erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy. The increased rating claim for DMII was denied, but the part of the September 13, 2011 decision that addressed this issue is vacated.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus, increased rating for tinnitus, and initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents while stationed near the Korean DMZ.