Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The right leg disability was granted a higher rating, but the claim remains pending. Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and heart disorder (ischemic heart disease) were not established as related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as the result of his service-connected heart condition and diabetes.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, erectile dysfunction (secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2), and right wrist disorder claimed as hand injury due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was not due to a disability incurred or aggravated in service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus as it did not become manifest during or within one year after the Veteran's first period of active duty. The claim for hypertension was previously denied and is now denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his active service, including whether any are related to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and CAD, both presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's chronic headaches are considered presumptive due to Agent Orange exposure.,Service connection is also granted for emphysema as a result of asbestos exposure, while the Veteran's pneumothorax claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and a separate rating for diabetic retinopathy were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted higher evaluations.,Service connection was also denied for irregular and painful menses, with no relation to service found. The Veteran's current menstrual disorders are attributed to post-service hyperandrogenism.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as new and material evidence has not been received. The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathies are secondary to his diabetes, but there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Service connection for kidney cancer and its residuals was granted.,The Veteran's heart disorder and hypertension were not determined to be related to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective prior to September 29, 2015. He also has a TDIU with an effective date of September 29, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to uncertainty regarding his exposure to herbicides during active military service while serving on the USS Meyerkord. The Board will seek clarification from the JSRRC and consider whether he was exposed in Vietnam waters in 1973.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, a low back condition (claimed as sore back), and infections of the skin of the feet, to include athlete's foot and onychomycosis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including foot disability, rheumatoid arthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory disorder, and diabetes mellitus (Type II), have been denied as the evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and her military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran refusing further VA examinations, and additional medical opinions are needed to determine the etiology of his left knee disorder and type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran is seeking a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The RO/AMC must obtain SSA disability benefits records and re-adjudicate the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a total combined disability rating prior to January 9, 2007, and TDIU is denied as he was employed by the VA Regional Office in Houston, Texas until February 11, 2008.