Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was reopened and granted. The claims for sleep apnea and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence of herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection are not currently supported by evidence demonstrating a current disability that began during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and leukemia on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's spouse was added as a dependent to his VA disability compensation award, effective October 27, 2017. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a kidney disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected GERD and accompanying medication.

The Veteran's claim for COPD was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. New evidence has not reopened this claim.,Prostate cancer and type II diabetes were granted as they are presumed conditions related to herbicide agent exposure during service in Vietnam.,Diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is also granted, linked to the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and hypertension contributed to his death. The appellant needs to provide additional information and/or evidence, particularly from private doctors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, COPD, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to new evidence received. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to service or secondary to other disabilities.

The Board has decided that a new examination is needed to clarify if the Veteran has glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy, as his service-connected diabetes may be aggravating these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, and his TDIU application were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure, while his hypertension claim is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and remanded the claim for diabetes mellitus type II due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to toxic chemicals during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including verifying the Veteran's claimed herbicide exposure and obtaining VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and congestive heart failure are remanded due to uncertainty regarding his exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam. The claim for coronary artery disease is also remanded as it may be related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. The cases for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type 2, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are also remanded. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition and whether it requires regulation of activities based on avoidance of strenuous activities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and skin cancer are all granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus (DM) is denied as the condition does not require regulation of activities.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, secondary to his service-connected DM, is denied due to lack of evidence showing penile deformity or loss of erectile power.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD prior to September 21, 2014, and from March 10, 2015, is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to in-service herbicide exposure.