Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The right knee disability is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for type II diabetes mellitus is granted due to exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development regarding his claim of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, which he claims is related to herbicide exposure. He has provided new evidence since the last decision and requests that it be considered by the RO first.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the entire appeal period, and he is entitled to SMC under 38 U.S.C. &#1114(s) due to his other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, and back pain, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants TDIU prior to December 8, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy is related to his service-connected diabetes, warranting service connection. However, there is no evidence of carotid artery disease for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and skin disability. The underlying service connection claims for bilateral foot disability and bilateral leg disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes are also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his service, including exposure to contaminants at Anderson Air Force Base (AAFB).

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities prior to October 14, 2015.

The Board found it not factually ascertainable that the Veteran had loss of use of both lower extremities prior to June 30, 2015, which is required for SMC at the R-1 rate.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, loss of use of penile functionality, cardiac disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and hepatocellular carcinoma due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand. The effective date is not specified as the claim was granted based on presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's exposure to chemicals during service, and because the secondary service connection claims are inextricably intertwined with the diabetes mellitus claim. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all outstanding records, provide the Veteran with another opportunity to submit evidence, and arrange for an addendum opinion from a physician.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to December 17, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for diabetes mellitus or skeletal arthritis as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's LUE and RUE musculospiral/radial nerves are both rated at 20 percent, while the RLE and LLE external popliteal/common peroneal nerves are each rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's DMII is also rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's RUE is rated at 30 percent, with a separate rating of 20 percent for paralysis of the femoral/anterior crural nerve in the RLE.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic diarrhea, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and thrombocytosis.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and chronic tremors of the bilateral upper extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied the remaining claims. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, with the evidence being in equipoise.