Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy, are rated at a combined 90 percent. The Board finds that these conditions preclude the Veteran from participating in substantially gainful employment due to their severity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for Special Monthly Compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, as these conditions are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's active service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and glaucoma is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits were denied as the evidence did not show he was unemployable prior to May 16, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, hepatitis C, and cirrhosis of liver (secondary to hepatitis C) due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents in Okinawa. The Veteran's service records indicate he was stationed at Kadena Air Force Base from January 1970 to August 1971.

The Board restored a 100% rating for diabetes mellitus, type I effective September 1, 2013, as the reduction was improper due to lack of improvement under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his military service in Thailand.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus with cataracts, and bilateral hearing loss rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 17, 2016, and from December 1, 2016, to February 28, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 due to exposure to trichlorethylene is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine the relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, except for prostate cancer, do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied, but his tinnitus and diabetes mellitus are granted. The rating for diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus II, high cholesterol to include as secondary to DM II, and hypertension to include as secondary to DM II. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The case must be referred to the Joint Services Records Research Center coordinator to verify if he was exposed, and a VA medical opinion will be obtained to assess the likelihood of his diabetes mellitus being related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and other conditions, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) beginning January 5, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development regarding exposure to herbicide agents during active duty. The hypertension claim will be evaluated based on the likelihood of exposure and its association with herbicide exposure, while diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's disease are presumed associated with such exposure.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for coronary artery disease (CAD) are denied as the evidence does not show more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure, a workload greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent.,The Veteran's increased rating for CAD beginning March 30, 2011 is denied as the evidence does not show chronic congestive heart failure, a workload of less than 3 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent.,The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II are denied as the evidence does not show regulation of activities, required daily insulin use, or hospitalizations during the period at issue.,The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy in the right lower extremity are denied as the evidence does not show moderate, incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy in the left lower extremity are denied as the evidence does not show moderate, incomplete paralysis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim.,Service connection was granted for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Board found in favor of the Veteran based on the presence of current disability and symptomatology related to his service-connected condition.,The effective date for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was denied as there was no evidence of a claim prior to August 14, 2012.,An initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,A higher than 70 percent rating for PTSD was denied as there were no additional symptoms or complications beyond those already established by service connection.,The Board found that the Veteran had not provided new and material evidence to reopen his claim of service connection for hypertension.