Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypersomnia with sleep apnea, a heart disability, impotence of organic origin, acne, and type II diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during service or were related to service.,The Board also found that there was no exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) during the Veteran's service at Goose Bay Air Force Base in Canada.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes, claimed as due to Agent Orange exposure, is remanded due to incomplete information regarding his alleged supply deliveries in the Demilitarized Zone.

The claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus is reopened and granted. The claims for respiratory disorder, left shoulder disability, generalized arthritis, neck pain, right wrist pain, left leg disability, and left thigh disability are also reopened and granted.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for sleep apnea, service connection for diabetes mellitus, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The addendum opinions are needed to address whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected disabilities or medications.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is not service-connected due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents and no evidence of chronicity in service.,The retina disability is not service-connected as it is not secondary to a service-connected condition or related to an in-service injury or disease.,Bladder cysts are not service-connected as there was no evidence of chronicity in service, nor any connection to herbicide exposure.,Prostate cancer is not service-connected due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents and no evidence of chronicity in service.,Skin cancer is not service-connected due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents and no evidence of chronicity in service.,Vitiligo is not service-connected as there was no evidence of chronicity in service.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 60 percent for genital herpes simplex with condylomata acuminate, the highest available under the applicable diagnostic code. The Veteran's use of acyclovir and valvacyclovir to manage his herpes outbreaks is considered a systemic therapy that requires constant or near-constant treatment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that an additional VA opinion is needed to determine if regulation of activities is required for medical management. The Veteran also needs a new VA examination to evaluate whether his hypertension or erectile dysfunction are due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death may be related to military service, but needs further evidence to confirm if he served in Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and remanded issues regarding upper extremity disabilities, PTSD rating, and a foot disability.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for further factual development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and whether his hypertension is related to diabetes mellitus or service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of Vietnam service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to exposure to herbicide agents while serving on TDY in Guam. The AOJ needs to verify the Veteran's alleged exposure and obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between such exposure and his conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hyperthyroidism aggravated his type II diabetes mellitus, which contributed to his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected due to lack of a 10-year period of continuous total disability rating, and the cause of death is not related to Agent Orange exposure or PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease and type II diabetes is granted, as these conditions are presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure during his military service. The cause of death due to these conditions is also granted.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted a 20 percent rating, but no more, from December 13, 2016. The claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to the need for medical opinions regarding causation and foreseeability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right lower extremity diabetic polyneuropathy were denied, with the right leg receiving a higher rating of 40% from July 6, 2017 onwards.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, residuals of cerebrovascular accident (CVA), depressive disorder, right ear hearing loss, and sleep apnea. Service connection was denied for left ear hearing loss and erectile dysfunction.