Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus and service connection for hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability requiring regulation of activities for diabetes, or any relationship between exposure to herbicide agents during service and hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient verification of herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus is reopened based on new evidence, but further investigation into his alleged exposure in Thailand and Vietnam is needed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and his claim for TDIU was also denied due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to herbicide exposure is denied as there was no in-service disease or injury and the evidence does not support a nexus between current disability and service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II, as these conditions are presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hyperlipidemia, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide agent exposure during his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus type II is denied as there is no evidence of a penile deformity, and the disability does not meet the criteria for a 20% rating under Diagnostic Code 7522.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo/dizziness, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, and stroke as the evidence did not establish a link to service or any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus, left and right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, and left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable rating codes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The rating for residuals of prostate cancer remains denied.

The Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. His claims for high cholesterol, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and hypertension are remanded due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure in Okinawa and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision found no current disabilities meeting VA criteria for hearing loss or diabetes, and that there was insufficient evidence to support presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. Service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and obstructive sleep apnea are dismissed. The effective date for the grant of service connection for lichen simplex chronicus, nummular dermatitis, eczematous dermatitis, keratosis pilaris, and acne keloidid nuchae is not changed.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the earliest effective date was August 10, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 12, 2012 is being remanded as the evidence shows he has been unable to work due to service-connected disabilities since at least December 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the addition of new medical records and the need for a VA examination regarding hypertension. The issues on appeal are an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, and service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for diabetes mellitus (DM) was denied as the evidence did not show that regulation of activities was necessary to manage his DM.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and to conduct a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his diabetes.