Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and an increased rating for a left ankle disability. The Veteran is required to submit statements of the case (SOC) for some claims and must be given an opportunity to perfect his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to potential exposure to contaminated water and other hazardous materials during service. The VA will verify this exposure and obtain an etiological opinion regarding the relationship between these exposures and the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The mood disorder is rated at 50% since November 29, 2010. Hepatitis C and gallstones/cirrhosis of the liver are each rated at 100% effective July 1, 2016. Diabetes mellitus remains at 20%. Erectile dysfunction continues to be noncompensable. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, have been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence is sufficient to grant service connection for these conditions due to presumed exposure to herbicides during active service.

The Board has decided to remand several claims related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including G6PD, hematuria, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, sleep apnea, acid reflux, hyperlipidemia, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, bilateral knee scars, and major depressive disorder. The remand includes obtaining missing VA treatment records, scheduling examinations for the Veteran's depression, knees, elbows, and lumbar strain conditions, and issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as secondary to herbicide exposure is remanded. The claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and asbestosis are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetic retinopathy, diabetes mellitus type 2, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment from January 5, 2011, to May 2, 2018.

The Board has determined that the dates of active duty and National Guard service need to be clarified before further adjudication can occur. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, right hand neuropathy, left hand neuropathy, right lower leg neuropathy, and left lower leg neuropathy as they are not shown to be related to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated during active duty and is not otherwise related to service. The Board noted that there was no evidence of DMII in service records and that the preponderance of the evidence suggested onset of DMII significantly post-service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with retinopathy. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to incomplete information about the Veteran's income.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was diagnosed within one year of his service discharge, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran served within the territorial sea of Vietnam, which could affect his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The VA will need to verify this and provide any additional medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the September 2009 rating decision denying service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus was clearly and unmistakably erroneous. Service connection is granted effective from November 25, 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, left ankle condition, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence supports the Veteran's claims that these conditions were incurred during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, heart disorder, and diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide exposure due to outstanding medical records and further investigation into the Veteran's claimed exposure.