Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension disability is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and hypertension is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, diverticulitis, asthma, COPD, diabetes mellitus, PTSD, stroke, bowel cancer, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, hernia, sleep apnea, and nerve damage. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to an effective date prior to September 15, 2009 for the grants of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and special monthly compensation based on loss of use due to the type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for diabetes mellitus or bilateral eye disabilities due to herbicide exposure, as there is no evidence of such exposure. The claim will be denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active duty. Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and visual impairment have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, sinus disability, and right ear hearing loss disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent and his diabetic retinopathy with constricted fields of vision is rated at 50 percent. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations are denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 was denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury during service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Okinawa, Japan. The claim will be reconsidered after further verification is obtained.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including a new VA examination regarding his claimed diabetes.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to exposure to herbicide agents is being remanded as the record does not support his contention of in-country Vietnam service and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service in Korea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, left and right foot conditions, low back condition, high cholesterol, bronchitis, sleep disorder, bilateral eye condition, arthritis, and sinus condition. The primary reasons are lack of in-service stressor for PTSD, no evidence of chronicity after discharge for other conditions, and insufficient herbicide exposure documentation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied. The claims for increased ratings for non-proliferative retinopathy and cataracts, CAD, and DM were granted with effective dates of February 2, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and renal insufficiency are not service connected due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities, which render him unemployable. The Board grants a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is related to service and grants this claim. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy with hypertension has been rated at 60 percent since November 16, 2012. Prior to that date, the rating was granted but not higher.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to have been incurred during his active service in Thailand with stopovers in Vietnam, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU was withdrawn by the Veteran.