Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's daughter, the Appellant, is not considered a proper claimant for accrued benefits as she does not meet the eligibility criteria for being his child. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicides. The issues of sleep apnea, loss of use of creative organ secondary to diabetes, left lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes, and right lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure have been reopened. The claim of service connection for voiding dysfunction as secondary to a service-connected disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient development of evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents in Okinawa, Japan. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether service connection should be granted based on PTSD, stress experienced as a criminal investigator, or any other etiology.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus type 2 were denied, but a restoration of the 40 percent rating was granted effective May 21, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or exposure.,Service connection was denied as there is no medical evidence linking any current disabilities to active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides during active service at the Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the case for further action regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus and the cause of death. The AOJ must verify the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents, if any, and request a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is related to his military service. Additionally, an opinion will be sought regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus due to lack of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, vitamin D deficiency, and sleep disorder (OSA) to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, including vestibular neuronitis. The VA will provide new opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure and insufficient evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The issues of entitlement to service connection for congestive heart failure and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for the bilateral upper and lower extremities' peripheral neuropathy remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, and requests that relevant private treatment records be obtained. The Veteran is also scheduled for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's myeloproliferative syndrome with conversion to AML, presumed due to Agent Orange exposure, is granted service connection for accrued benefits purposes. The cause of death (AML) is also granted. The Veteran's IHD is rated at 40 percent but no higher. His shortened right metacarpal and PTSD are not granted initial ratings in excess of the current 60 percent rating. An earlier effective date than May 21, 2011 for service connection of IHD is denied. TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been caused by his military service. The Board also granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period prior to September 14, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.,As of September 14, 2017, the issue of TDIU is moot as the Veteran's combined schedular rating is now at 100 percent.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and requires additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's high blood pressure, including whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities or presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and thus not meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e).

The Board found the reduction of the rating for diabetes mellitus from 40% to 20% was proper, and denied entitlement to a higher disability rating or TDIU.