Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as a result of Gulf War exposure is being remanded due to the need for additional research in his military personnel file.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is found to have had its onset in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The ratings for his back and neck disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's claim for hypertension was not addressed due to the remand instructions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and therefore grants service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, and Parkinson's disease on a presumptive basis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which is now considered secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in service, which triggers a presumption of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, and Parkinson's disease. As the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions, all manifest to a compensable degree, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the claim period, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.,His right upper extremity diabetic neuropathy is also rated at 70 percent, with severe incomplete paralysis of all radicular groups.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical inquiry.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cause of death, hypoxic encephalopathy, was not caused or substantially contributed to by a service-connected disability. The appellant has not provided sufficient evidence to establish that diabetes mellitus type II, presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, caused or contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hypertension was not service-connected due to lack of onset in service, within one year of separation, or otherwise related to a service-connected disability. For the period prior to December 17, 2013, his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.

The Board found no evidence of a current back disorder related to service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was evaluated as noncompensable under old criteria, but is now rated at 10% due to greater than 50% obstruction on both sides.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, coronary artery disease, cervical disorder, and other conditions are all granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction and radiculopathy that is secondary to his service-connected DM.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for atopic dermatitis, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and anxiety disorder), chronic sleep impairment, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral knee disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and nephropathy with hypertension. The Board found that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and service or any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, retinopathy, and testicular cancer were denied as there is no evidence of service connection due to exposure to herbicides or any other basis.

The combined impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, allowing for a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected hypertension and its associated diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to potential herbicide agent exposure in Korea. The VA will verify this exposure before deciding the claims.