Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another or being housebound.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is being remanded for further development to assess his exposure to toxins at Fort McClellan and determine if it is related to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of November 22, 2013, for his TDIU award due to a lack of evidence showing intent to seek TDIU benefits prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active duty service and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims of service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Peripheral Neuropathy, upper and lower extremities, due to herbicide exposure is granted. The appeals are remanded for further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam, which could affect his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for epididymitis, thoracic outlet syndrome with left ulnar nerve impairment, cardiac arrhythmia, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated again to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted on an extraschedular basis.,For the period from March 7, 2012, to November 30, 2017, his acquired psychiatric disability was evaluated as 50 percent disabling. The Board found that this level of impairment did not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating (such as 70% or 100%) and thus denied an increased evaluation.,The Veteran's arthritis conditions were remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether they are service-connected.,Service connection was granted for headaches secondary to tinnitus.,Other claims, including those related to sleep disability, hypertension, skin condition, diabetes mellitus, special monthly compensation, and TDIU, were also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are remanded due to unclear information about his exposure to herbicides during naval service. Additional development is needed, including verification of his service within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, low back, left hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's current disabilities are not considered the result of an August 1972 motor vehicle accident.,Service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus has also been denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand during the Veteran's period of active duty.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left hip disability, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, diabetes mellitus type II, and psychiatric disabilities. The effective date for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, CAD, and prostate cancer due to a lack of in-service herbicide exposure. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, heart disability (stent placement), lumbar degenerative disc disease, and traumatic brain injury residuals are being remanded due to new evidence suggesting potential exposure to herbicides during service. The Board will determine if this exposure qualifies him for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus type I, and the Board has dismissed this issue as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral vascular disease were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, which he claims is related to his exposure to Agent Orange while serving aboard the USS INTREPID (CVS-11) off the coast of Vietnam. The Board finds that additional development is required to determine if the USS INTREPID was within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam.

The Board vacated its previous decision and remanded the service connection claims for muscular dystrophy and diabetes mellitus type 2. The claim for muscular dystrophy was reopened due to new evidence, but the issue of service connection remains pending. The claim for diabetes mellitus type 2 is still being considered.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current criteria.,DM2 was initially granted service connection with a 10% rating effective September 26, 2012. The Veteran's DM2 has required medication to control it and requires an oral hypoglycemic agent in addition to a restricted diet since February 7, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period, and his TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The effective date of the award of service connection for hypertension is denied as it does not meet the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.104.