Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent disability rating, effective October 28, 2010. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were not pending before VA on May 3, 1989, or received by VA between that date and the effective date of the statute or regulation establishing a presumption of service connection for the covered diseases. Therefore, an earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective April 5, 2010 due to his service-connected disabilities including cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for his sciatic peripheral neuropathy, as well as his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a disability incurred or aggravated during his military service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II is related to his service. The examiner must consider an old letter from the Tampa VAMC Director.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 20 percent, and his coronary artery disease was not productive of acute congestive heart failure in the past year or workload greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs prior to August 16, 2012. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's combined total rating was correctly calculated as 80 percent prior to March 11, 2016.

The Board has found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand, which triggers a presumption of service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim for retinopathy is remanded as there is conflicting evidence regarding its current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or causation for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity have been rated based on their respective nerve distributions.,The Veteran has not met the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II, has been withdrawn prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, heart disability, and gallbladder removal residuals due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities is rated at 30 percent for the left upper extremity and 40 percent for the right upper extremity since October 16, 2006. The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU prior to March 30, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not caused by his exposure to herbicides or insecticides during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met both the schedular criteria for a TDIU and precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from October 31, 2011 to March 20, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service and now has diabetes mellitus, type II. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his bilateral hearing loss, foot disorders, varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, and psychiatric disorder. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been presented to reopen a previously-denied claim for right knee disability.