Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and that his condition did not manifest within one year of discharge. The Board also found that his diabetes mellitus is not related to any aspect of his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure during the Veteran's Vietnam-era service. The claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any other form of presumed exposure. The diagnoses do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, his left radial nerve disability at 50 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity are each rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and respiratory disability were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for a 50 percent rating for migraines prior to October 4, 2010 is denied. The effective date of the grant of special monthly compensation based on housebound status is set to October 4, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral heel spurs are found to be related to his service-connected leg disabilities.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II is not considered incurred in or aggravated by service and is not secondary to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from June 17, 1999 through January 4, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tension headaches was denied in a May 1969 rating decision. The effective date of the grant of service connection for tension headaches is October 26, 2010.

The Board found that the severance of service connection for coronary artery disease was proper, and denied entitlement to a TDIU rating and an extraschedular rating based upon multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, and denied a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were based on direct service connection without any evidence of Agent Orange exposure or other presumptive conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred during service or due to exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE). The claim is therefore denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus prior to March 12, 2016 was granted at a 10 percent. From March 12, 2016 onwards, the Veteran is now rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure in Panama or the Panama Canal Zone.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, renal calculi or kidney stones, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral retinal degeneration due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current eye disorder, including whether it is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction are found to have been incurred within one year of his separation from service. The Veteran also has a compensable degree of hypothyroidism that manifested within one year of his separation from service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disorder and granted it. Service connection is also established for diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation, both found to be related to service.