Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure and the condition did not manifest in service or within one year after discharge.

Service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the upper left and right extremities is restored, with an effective date from June 4, 2013.,The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for depressive disorder NOS (including PTSD) is denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right knee disability and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression). The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a right leg skin condition are all remanded.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes were not incurred during service, are not related to any in-service event or injury, did not manifest within one year of service discharge, and are not secondary to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's diabetes was not incurred during service, is not related to any in-service event or injury, did not manifest within one year of service discharge, and is not a Gulf War illness.

The Veteran's hypertension and low back injury with scoliosis and degenerative changes of thoracic spine are granted service connection. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is denied as not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's hiatal hernia is granted a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease are granted service connection as they are presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicides.

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

The Veteran's work history is unclear, and further information is needed regarding his education, training, and work history up to the time he became too disabled in June 2013. Additionally, missing private medical records are required for a proper evaluation of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for type II diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, peripheral vascular disease, varicose veins, phlebitis/thrombophlebitis, embolism/thrombosis, proteinuria, impotence, and a skin disorder. The Board found that the evidence did not establish service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus (DM) was rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted. The Veteran also met the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is granted due to exposure to herbicides during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for residuals from rib resection surgery was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and prostate disorder were denied as there is no link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder remains under remand for further examination.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II is dismissed. The appeals for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for separate, compensable ratings for diabetic cataracts, erectile dysfunction, tinea pedis and cruris, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and an increased rating for PTSD. The RO is instructed to first adjudicate the claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus before addressing these issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has not required regulation of activities, and therefore does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 20 percent.

The Board has vacated the August 31, 2017 decision and remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions. The claims of service connection for Congestive Heart Failure, Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DMII), and Obstructive Sleep Apnea are being remanded due to new evidence received since previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, both due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's testimony about his exposure is not verified, and further development is needed to corroborate this claim.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD and diabetes mellitus type 2 due to herbicide exposure has been reopened, and service connection is granted. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not establish a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.