Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic related neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. Effective January 31, 2014, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for hemorrhoidectomy, diabetes mellitus, and right ankle disability. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period of April 29, 2005 to February 3, 2006 due to lack of evidence showing he was unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

Your claim for service connection for bilateral upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy has been fully granted, and you are now receiving the full benefit sought.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus due to the lack of evidence showing herbicide exposure in service, and thus cannot establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service included exposure to Agent Orange near the air base perimeter in Nakhon Phanom AFB, Thailand. As a result, diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to be related to this exposure and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has decided that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral diabetic peripheral neuropathy and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for new VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, diabetes mellitus type II, gout, hypertension, and a right scrotum knot as there was no evidence showing these conditions began during or were otherwise caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a heart disability, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the amputation of the Veteran's left leg was not caused by VA treatment and did not result from an unforeseeable event. The evidence showed that conservative treatments were effective until a late infection developed, leading to the need for an amputation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation due to loss of use of a creative organ, as these issues are inextricably intertwined with the underlying claim for service connection. Additional development is needed including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic renal disease is granted. The claim for service connection for actinic keratosis is remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including diabetes, heart disorder, lower back condition, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, and service connection. The issues are inextricably intertwined due to their interrelated nature.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient evidence regarding their service connection. The Veteran contends that his conditions are related to his service-connected hypertension condition and environmental irritants from serving in the Persian Gulf.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a failure to provide adequate evidence and notification, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the original decisions.

The Board denied service connection for cardiac disorder, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid disorder as these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is also not supported.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective August 31, 2010 due to his service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.