Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional verification of the Veteran's claimed in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and a need for a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for various service connection claims, including those related to his throat disorder and diabetes mellitus, have been withdrawn. The claim for a throat disorder was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied a higher rating and also found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as his impotence/erectile dysfunction are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,Hearing loss has not been shown for VA purposes.

The Board found insufficient evidence to establish herbicide exposure during service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and heart condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred or aggravated during active duty, is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disability, and its incurrence or aggravation during active duty may not be presumed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship with his military service or exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was also denied due to lack of evidence showing VA's failure to exercise reasonable care in providing treatment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and grants a TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on appeal, including those related to service connection and rating claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Type 2 diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since March 25, 2004. Effective that date, he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and erectile dysfunction are service-connected, with the latter being secondary to his major depressive disorder disability.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy has been rated at 20 percent for each leg, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II does not require regulation of activities and has not resulted in episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or more hospitalizations per year. The current 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus is appropriate as it takes into account the Veteran's diabetic retinopathy.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type I, was not incurred in service and denied his claims for service connection. The Board also determined that the peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, as well as the bilateral eye disability, were not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was presumptively exposed to herbicides during service, and thus service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted. The case is REMANDED for further examination and opinion regarding peripheral neuropathy and tremors of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for a left wrist disability is denied due to lack of evidence of current disability.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and panic disorder was rated at 70 percent, but the Board found that this did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms. The diabetes with erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were also rated, but no ratings were granted as they did not meet the required schedular criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were denied as there is no evidence of in-service disease or injury, nor any current diagnoses that are linked to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II (DM), and erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to DM. Tinnitus is presumed due to in-service acoustic trauma. Diabetes mellitus type II (DM) is presumed due to herbicide exposure during service. Erectile dysfunction is found to be caused by DM.