Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient evidence regarding their service connection.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gout, kidney condition (adrenal adenoma), obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus have been denied. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease (CAD) as a result of exposure to herbicides due to insufficient evidence regarding his alleged exposure in Thailand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, requires only restricted diet and an oral glycemic agent during the period on appeal. The issues of service connection for a right shoulder disability, cervical strain, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, psychiatric disability (to include depression), initial increased evaluation for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding etiology.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed related to his exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Thailand. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, tinnitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss, have been granted effective from December 11, 2013. The bladder tumors were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a spinal disability, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy due to incomplete records from the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) file.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in service. Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran served within the 12-nautical-mile territorial waters of the Republic of Vietnam during his service aboard the U.S.S. Hancock.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a rating of 100 percent, and the issues related to hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and upper extremity neuropathy are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for glaucoma and ischemic heart disease has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.,Tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity have all been granted service connection. The Veteran's hypertension and a skin disability (to include chloracne) are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for borderline diabetes and coronary artery disease are being remanded due to the need for additional verification of his alleged Vietnam exposure and for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn for certain issues. The claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for depressive disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and the cause of death (dementia) is not considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. The issues of service connection for a stroke as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II; Parkinson's disease due to herbicide exposure; and progressive supranuclear palsy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to errors in a previous decision and because of recent information from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) indicating an association between hypertension and exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating effective May 6, 2009. The remaining claims for increased ratings are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them in his attorney's April 2019 correspondence.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, type II diabetes mellitus (DM), and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been granted service connection due to herbicide agent exposure in the Republic of Vietnam. The heart condition appeal has been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of herbicide agent exposure, and will attempt to verify whether the Veteran was exposed while serving in Thailand.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, back disability, bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, sleep disability, chest disability, diabetes mellitus (to include as secondary to herbicide exposure), TBI, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy have all been denied. The dental condition claim has also been referred for adjudication.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claims for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and an increased rating for left ulnar neuropathy.