Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of radar sites in Korea and clarification of the type of diabetes mellitus he has.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including type II diabetes mellitus and its associated conditions, have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since December 31, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus requires insulin and a restricted diet but does not require regulation of activities, thus preventing him from receiving a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to January 11, 2012. The effective date for TDIU is set at December 14, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity prior to December 4, 2009, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during service, are not related to his service-connected PTSD, and do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes and multiple noncompensable disabilities has been withdrawn. The Board also finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by difficulty breathing, hypertension, or chloracne.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the period of the claim.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus disability is currently rated at 40 percent since November 10, 2016. The Board finds that an evaluation in excess of this rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted with a rating in excess of 50 percent from January 20, 2016 onwards. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are denied as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's esophageal cancer and diabetes mellitus are not service connected.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents, and was not caused or aggravated by the service-connected PTSD.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, hypertension increased in severity proximately due to or the result of service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted. The issues of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure and an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's diabetes with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not require regulation of activities or demonstrate episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. However, the claim is denied as there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicide agents during service, and the current disability does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for diabetes mellitus, left foot disability, and sinus disability have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to lack of herbicide exposure and no evidence linking it to service. For arthritis, the Board determined there was no in-service injury or disease leading to current symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes is granted due to exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand, which led to a presumption of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic nephropathy, render him unemployable as of January 15, 2014. His combined disability rating meets the criteria for a TDIU.