Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted service connection as a result of exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for hypertension is granted with an effective date of May 25, 1976.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction was denied. The claim for TDIU before August 1, 2008, was also denied.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to address his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is found to be caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus granted as secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and addressing the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral pes planus, left foot tendonitis, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's child is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits because she was over the age of 26 at the time her father became permanently and totally disabled.

The Veteran's use of his VA-issued bilateral knee braces with hinges caused wear and tear on his clothing, leading to a decision granting a clothing allowance for the year 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and service connection for PTSD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for diabetes prior to September 13, 2010 or after that date, and there was insufficient medical evidence linking his PTSD symptoms to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to unspecified diabetes mellitus without complications, which the Board found not service-connected. The Appellant sought death pension benefits but his income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptations were denied due to the lack of service connection criteria being met.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and heart disease as they were not incurred or aggravated in line of duty during the appellant's periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Board found no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides during service, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service and finds that he is entitled to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and coronary artery disease as presumptively related to such exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for high cholesterol associated with contaminated water at Camp Lejeune before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to December 3, 2010 for his award of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU). The decision found that the claim was not filed within one year before the effective date and did not meet the schedular numeric criteria for an award of TDIU until December 3, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetic neuropathy of all extremities is denied as the condition was not diagnosed until August 2011, which is after May 8, 2001 when diabetes mellitus (the basis for presumptive service connection) was added to the list of diseases associated with herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and TDIU prior to January 3, 2012 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the schedular criteria or for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to diabetes and coronary artery disease. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran’s exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and his hypertension.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities, and therefore entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).