Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for Type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, and a lung disability (claimed as lung disease). Hypertension was granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart condition, and multiple lipomas on whole body due to a stay regarding naval service and presumed herbicide exposure. Further development is required as it is unclear whether the USS Annapolis served within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and bilateral foot rash have been granted. The claim for lung cancer as a result of herbicide exposure is remanded. The claim for PTSD is also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes, hypertension, memory loss, and peripheral neuropathy were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents or other toxins during her initial training at Fort McClellan.,Service connection could not be established due to lack of chronicity in service and failure to meet the one-year presumptive period for diseases associated with herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including DMII and prostate cancer, are remanded due to insufficient evidence of exposure to herbicide agents. The issues of left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, mouth cancer, and kidney or bladder disorder are also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II, both secondary to herbicide exposure while serving at the U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB). The claims for tension headaches and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to lack of a medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted an increased rating to 40 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's residuals of amoebic dysentery and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are denied service connection. Service connection for residuals of a stroke is also denied. The claim for hypertension was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder condition is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for hypertension is granted. The Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to his service-connected PTSD should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam and his exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for diabetes mellitus type II will be reconsidered with new information.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection, including those for pulmonary disorder, neurological disorder, sinus disorder, kidney disorder, right knee disorder, numbness of the left side of the face, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding these issues during a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied. The claims for increased ratings of diabetes mellitus type II, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability were all granted. However, the effective date for SMC based on housebound was not granted.

The claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death has been reopened, but it is denied as there is no evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to his military service. The claim for VA death pension benefits was also denied due to the appellant's income exceeding the Maximum Annual Pension Rate.

The Veteran's claim for a respiratory condition due to a positive PPD test is denied. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is also denied. For the period prior to November 14, 2017, the claim for a 20 percent rating for glaucoma is granted. For the period from November 14, 2017, the claim for a 30 percent rating for glaucoma is granted. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hemorrhoids is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for right and left foot bunions. The remaining issues have been remanded due to need for additional evidence or examination.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back disorder, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, headaches, high cholesterol, heart disorder, lung disorder, and skin disorder. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and left hand, secondary to now service connected type II diabetes mellitus on a causation basis are both granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Korea, which is presumed for certain diseases listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e).

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus are being remanded for further verification of his claimed exposure to herbicide agents in service. The peripheral neuropathy claims are also remanded as they are related to the diabetes mellitus claim.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The RO is instructed to contact the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and determine whether the Veteran was on ACDUTRA during 1999, 2000-01, or 2003. If these periods are confirmed, addendum opinions must be obtained regarding the etiology of any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DM) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.