Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and cardiomyopathy have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and melanoma due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer was dismissed. The claim for diabetes mellitus, presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service, is granted. The claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is remanded due to incomplete information in his VA 21-2680 form. A new VA examination is required to determine if he meets the requirement for aid and attendance due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because his employment as a construction cost estimator, which he has held since retiring in 2005 and continues to hold part-time, is considered substantially gainful employment rather than marginal employment. The Board found that the Veteran’s employer did not provide protected or sheltered work environment for him.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim is pending and will be reconsidered after additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a medical diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The VA will attempt to verify if the USS Hancock (CVA-19) was within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam while the Veteran served aboard.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee disability, back disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The evidence submitted since the prior final denial was not considered new and material.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the remaining claims on appeal can be decided. The Veteran's psychiatric disability may be related to his active service, and a VA examination should be scheduled for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, headaches, memory and concentration condition, and sleep condition have been denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for headaches, memory and concentration condition, and sleep condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD (now characterized as an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD), prostate disorder due to herbicide exposure, and COPD due to herbicide exposure. The appeals are not related to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance, as his inability to perform daily activities is attributed to nonservice-connected conditions. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence against the claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as a delusional disorder, on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability. The remaining issues of service connection for tendonitis of the right knee, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and related conditions have been denied.,Service connection has also been denied for hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU from May 7, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer, type II diabetes, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on the combined effect of these conditions.