Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, dysthymic disorder, and hypothyroidism. Service connection was not granted based on exposure to herbicide agents or other chemicals due to lack of evidence of such exposure. The Board also denied TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as due to herbicide exposure, is denied because there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during his active duty service and the disease did not manifest within one year after separation.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas including work, family, mood, and judgment between June 1, 2008, and October 2, 2009, and after October 5, 2011. He is also rated as having diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his PTSD since July 22, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for scheduling a DRO hearing as requested by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service, which would allow for presumptive service connection. The case is being remanded to gather more information about the Veteran's claimed exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand. The decision is based on the presumption of exposure due to his service at Takhili Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and tuberculosis, as well as the claim for the Veteran's cause of death. The claims were found to be without merit due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed.,The RO granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and erectile dysfunction, a diabetic ulcer on the left foot, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and SMC based on loss of use of creative organ. The effective date was set at April 28, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and steroid-induced hyperglycemia due to inadequate medical opinions from the Under Secretary for Health and Benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide agent exposure has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand, which is sufficient evidence to grant presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred in service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors. The Veteran's claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not show exposure to herbicide agents and there was no in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's asbestosis is rated at 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board also denied his claim for TDIU prior to March 29, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure, prostate disability, diabetes, and thyroid disability due to exposure to herbicides. The records need to be searched again as there is insufficient information in the previous decision regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type 2, residuals of trauma to right hand, back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, malaria, and residuals of laceration to base of right fifth finger due to insufficient evidence on record.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew all issues on appeal in June 2018 and July 2018.

Service connection for PTSD is granted.,An initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of direct service connection for hepatitis C or that regulation of activities due to diabetes required in order to grant a higher disability rating.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to November 1, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.