Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not produce total occupational impairment, and therefore he is not entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including PTSD, CAD, and peripheral neuropathy) made it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 30, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim was remanded for further development due to conflicting evidence regarding his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea, secondary to his service-connected chronic bronchitis, has been granted. However, the compensable disability rating for his service-connected chronic bronchitis remains denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), due to in-service exposure to tactical herbicide agents, is pending and requires further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and paralysis of sciatic nerve condition were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been reopened and is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for DMII, including as due to exposure to herbicides, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was reopened due to new evidence showing exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand. As a result, the claim is granted.

The Board has remanded three claims: ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The claims are related as they all involve service connection for conditions associated with diabetes mellitus. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus is remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and a new examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not service-connected due to lack of evidence of exposure to herbicide agents. The case is being remanded for further investigation and potential clarification on the Veteran's in-service exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide-agent exposure. The issues of ischemic stroke, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange for bronchiectasis, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The case is being sent back to the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) to determine if the Veteran’s naval vessel was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD; bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; and diabetes mellitus. Service connection is now granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DM II, IHD, hypertension, ED, glaucoma, and sleep apnea have been denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other events that could establish presumptive service connection.,Secondary service connection was not granted as the primary conditions (DM II and IHD) were also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for a heart disorder and diabetes mellitus due to exposure at Fort McClellan. The Veteran's assertions of herbicide agent exposure are being verified, and he will undergo VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses at a private facility is denied as the treatment was not authorized by VA, and the Millennium Act did not apply to prior treatments.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for Major Depressive Disorder and Diabetes Mellitus Type II, as well as service connection for Peripheral Neuropathy of the Bilateral Upper Extremities and Chronic Kidney Disease. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type 2 was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for this condition.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities were granted with a temporary increase to 20 percent from November 10, 2015, but both are now denied as his conditions have not improved since that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, is denied because there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the condition did not manifest within one year of discharge.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as a result of exposure to herbicides during service. The Veteran's claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.