Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, entitling him to a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper notice of TDIU claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes was denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or any other basis for establishing service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II, is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while stationed in Thailand during his service, and therefore grants service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities and left upper extremity, emphysema, and COPD were not shown to be related to service or any presumptive exposure.,Service connection for asbestosis was denied due to lack of evidence.

The Board determined that the Veteran's diabetes did not manifest during service or within a year of discharge, and thus denied his claim for service connection. For tinea pedis, the Board found no evidence of systemic treatment such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs in the past 12 months, leading to denial of an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his 80 percent rating for renal disability and 30 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder have been denied as the earliest possible effective date is April 29, 2015.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on direct and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 31, 2010 is being remanded as the threshold schedular criteria are not met. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of in-service events, injuries, or diseases related to the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus type II, heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, stroke, stomach disability, amputations, renal disease, and anemia. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and a skin disorder. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, eye condition (retinal neuropathy), bilateral diabetic neuropathies, and a breathing condition. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and thus presumptive service connection could not be established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. An aid and attendance examination will also be scheduled.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for PTSD, finding new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for lower back pain, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, migraines, tinnitus, and maxillary sinusitis have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all service-connected.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea are being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's diabetes is presumed to be due to his herbicide agent exposure in the Republic of Vietnam, and he has been diagnosed with this disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hand tremors are being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicide agents while stationed in Naha, Okinawa.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service, which allows for presumptive service connection of diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer.