Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's IHD and diabetes mellitus, type II are found to be at least as likely as not related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not have onset during active service, was not etiologically related to or caused by service, and is therefore denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism have been remanded for additional examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the possibility of exposure to herbicide agents in service, which may trigger VA's duty to assist. Further development is needed to determine if he was exposed and whether his conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was reopened and granted based on evidence showing the condition is due to his time in service.,Service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus were also granted as they are related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate disability ratings for his RUE diabetic neuropathy.

The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other disabling pathology affecting these disabilities.,The Veteran's wrist disability has been evaluated under Diagnostic Code 5214, which addresses limitation of motion. There is no evidence of ankylosis at any point on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including depression, diabetes mellitus with nephropathy and erectile dysfunction, left lower leg neuropathy, and right lower leg neuropathy. The issues are about increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with hypertension and erectile dysfunction (ED) is rated at 20 percent disabling. The issues of increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and there was no evidence of herbicide exposure. Therefore, his claim for diabetes due to presumed Agent Orange exposure is denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's high blood pressure is not currently diagnosed.

The Board found no credible evidence of the Veteran's service in Thailand or Vietnam, and thus denied claims for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to service.,The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was also denied due to his annualized countable income exceeding the maximum limit.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral eye disability. The claims were not granted as secondary to a service-connected condition or due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy; as well as PTSD, render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.,For the entire appeal period, the criteria for a 50 percent rating, but no higher, for PTSD are met.

The Veteran's diabetes is presumed to have been caused by his herbicide agent exposure in service. The claim for hypertension secondary to diabetes is granted.