Diabetes decisions — 2018

Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, acid reflux, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records, verify any trip ashore to Vietnam, and provide medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an upper respiratory disability, left and right foot disabilities, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM II), and erectile dysfunction (ED). The cases are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus was not caused or aggravated by any aspect of active service, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during the relevant time period. Therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, an acute kidney condition, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and peripheral artery disease, as they are not related to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides during service and no current disability related to service. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran’s diabetes began in or within one year after service.

The Board denied the appellant's appeal for an earlier effective date of April 5, 2006, for the assignment of a combined rating of 90 percent and a TDIU. The Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim for increased ratings prior to his April 5, 2006, claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for hypertension is denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The appeals to reopen claims of service connection for PTSD, residuals of a head injury/traumatic brain injury (TBI), headaches, sleep disorder, liver disorder and dental disorder for treatment purposes are remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes and remanded the issues of service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (LLE) and right lower extremity (RLE). The Veteran's diabetes is being examined further to determine if it existed prior to active duty or was aggravated during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and skin cancer metastases to left parotid and left neck lymph node, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, right leg peripheral artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unemployable. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and its related conditions, as well as erectile dysfunction and a vascular condition. The Veteran's representative requested additional records from the Grand Island Nebraska VA Medical Center to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, anxiety, depression, memory disorder, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, fatigue, and hair loss are granted with effective dates of November 5, 2002.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, heart disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral knee disability as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other incidents that could have caused these conditions. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy to include as due to herbicide exposure, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Veteran did not submit new and material evidence within one year.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is rated at 60 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The other issues are remanded for further review.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.