Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and grants TDIU with an effective date of January 28, 2014.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the Veteran's diabetes was not shown to have manifested within one year of discharge. The VA examiner concluded there is no connection between the Veteran's current diabetes disability and service.

From January 24, 2006 to September 1, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were sufficiently incapacitating as to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service records do not definitively show a layover in Vietnam or perimeter duty at Udorn Air Force Base, but his statements are generally consistent with the information contained in his service records and procedures followed by military aircraft during the Vietnam era. The Board finds that the evidence is at least approximately balanced on these questions, setting foot in Vietnam or placing duties near the perimeter of Udorn Air Force Base. As a result, IHD and type 2 diabetes are presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed heart condition, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as these conditions are not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathies in his upper extremities have been reopened. His diabetes mellitus, type II has been rated at 20 percent since June 28, 2007. The evidence does not support a higher rating for the diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. A separate 30 percent disability rating, but no higher, has been granted for diabetic nephropathy.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from a Naval Hospital and ensuring all relevant records are considered. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were denied as there is no probative evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The claim for PTSD was also denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral diabetic retinopathy with cataracts was denied, and his claim for a TDIU due to this condition was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating or a TDIU based on the service-connected disability alone.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The claim of increased rating for left knee disability and the claim of diabetes mellitus are also addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 14, 2015. As of December 14, 2015, the Veteran has been assigned a 100 percent disability evaluation for PTSD and an award of SMC. The appeal is dismissed as the issue of TDIU is moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's conditions, including diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disability are service connected. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have chronic balanitis, and his stroke was not caused by asbestos.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the evaluations for diabetes mellitus, type II, with diabetic retinopathy and erectile dysfunction, as well as left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is granted as presumptively service connected due to in-service herbicide exposure. The claims for left and right arm/shoulder strain are remanded for further examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's Parkinson's disease and diabetes mellitus type II are not service connected as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents, such as Agent Orange. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's CAD and type II diabetes mellitus are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to his military service.,Erectile dysfunction is not found to be caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as it meets the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure during his time at Takhli Air Force Base.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary for the Veteran's PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II claims due to lack of recent medical evidence. The erectile dysfunction claim will be addressed in conjunction with the diabetes mellitus claim.