Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The claims will be further evaluated based on the current medical and lay evidence.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for diabetes insipidus associated with pituitary macroadenoma with Rathke's cleft cyst (diabetes insipidus) throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's treatment at Baylor University Medical Center was not for a service-connected condition and the VA facility was feasibly available. The claim is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus may be related to his service, but needs further verification of his in-service herbicide exposure. The case is being sent back for this purpose.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred during his active service in Thailand. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, right and left lower extremities, Barrett’s syndrome, and melanoma due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, as COPD and other conditions were ruled out. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran’s heart disability to his service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen her service connection for a cardiac disability and diabetes mellitus, but denied her claim for service connection for a left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to an in-service injury or disease.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as new and material evidence had not been received. The claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied due to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss preventing him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.,Entitlement to cause of death determination for the Veteran was denied as there is no evidence showing that any fatal condition was caused by his military service. The appellant received burial benefits but not more than $700.00 due to exceeding the allowable amount.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer are granted as a result of herbicide exposure. Erectile dysfunction is remanded due to lack of adequate nexus opinion. Squamous cell carcinoma of the neck is also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death is not service-connected due to lack of total disability for 10 years prior to his death. The cause of death claim remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for clothing allowances due to lack of evidence showing that his braces and creams caused irreparable damage or wear and tear to his clothing.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as a result of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, prostate cancer (due to herbicide exposure), and sarcoidosis (due to herbicide exposure) as they are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 is being remanded due to the need for further investigation into his claimed exposure to Agent Orange while serving as an air cargo specialist at McGuire Airforce Base.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis (to include sleep apnea) is rated at a 30 percent disability from October 17, 2006 to May 19, 2009 and at a 60 percent disability from May 19, 2009 to July 16, 2013. The Veteran's sarcoidosis is not rated higher than 60 percent since July 16, 2013.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, liver disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of disease or injury during the appellant's period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) that resulted in current disabilities.

The Board found that the reduction of the rating for diabetes mellitus from 40 percent to 20 percent was proper and in accordance with VA regulations, as there was sustained material improvement in the Veteran's disability.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus are granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicides during his time in Thailand. Service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete records and issues regarding the severity of service-connected conditions.