Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of hearing loss, foot disability other than flat feet, or a current foot disability other than flat feet. Service connection was not granted for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, vision loss, laxity of the right knee, or recurrent low back pain with history of muscle strain.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic nephropathy is currently rated as 60 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected sleep apnea. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish aggravation of erectile dysfunction by chronic right testalgia.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes and granted it, finding that he was exposed to herbicides in Korea during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 23, 2008 for service connection of various conditions were denied as the disabilities preexisted his final period of active duty service and are not shown to have been aggravated during that time.,All awards of service connection and SMC based on these conditions were assigned an effective date of August 23, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not have its onset in, or is otherwise related to his period of active duty service. The bilateral upper extremity disabilities were also denied as they are not presumed to be due to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, including whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied due to lack of diagnosis and evidence of etiology. The claim has been reopened, but the Board finds that there is no new and material evidence to support the claim. For hypertension, a 10 percent rating has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a shaving disorder has been withdrawn. The claim for reopening of diabetes mellitus was reopened based on new and material evidence, but service connection is not granted due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service.,Service connection for PTSD was denied as the claimed in-service stressor could not be verified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection for diabetic nephropathy was properly severed, effective December 1, 2013. As a result, a retroactive increase is not allowed after basic entitlement has been terminated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during or after service and no link to service. The Veteran did not have any symptoms or treatment related to diabetes while in active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and type II diabetes mellitus as these conditions are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure due to a lack of evidence corroborating in-service event/injury. The diseases did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, anxiety disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's left knee disability is presumed to have been incurred in service due to a diagnosed condition during active duty. His anxiety disorder is related to his military service, specifically exposure to traumatic events. Diabetes mellitus is found to be at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's reported exposure to Malathion insecticide while serving as an air policeman.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to in-service exposure to loud noise. The claims for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and carpal tunnel syndrome are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to November 20, 2013 for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension have been denied as there was no formal or informal claim received before that date. The appropriate effective dates are set at November 20, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 25, 2009, for the grant of service connection for diabetes associated with herbicide exposure on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the November 2009 rating decision.