Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted at a 40 percent rating starting October 7, 2015. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus remains rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted as a subsequent manifestation of already service-connected left ankle arthritis.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted service connection for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and type II diabetes mellitus. The claim for service connection of basal cell carcinoma is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding potential exposure to herbicides, pesticides, or radiation during service.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, and his combined disability rating is sufficient to grant a TDIU prior to August 3, 2017.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to service connection and increased disability ratings, including for diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an increased rating for hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The remaining claims of service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, and kidney cancer are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as his employability is most severely impacted by a non-service connected cerebrovascular disorder.

The Veteran was not found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 1, 2003.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were sufficient to produce unemployability for the period from October 2, 2015, through March 14, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for a thoracic strain and a back disorder secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. Service connection is granted for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and chronic kidney condition as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected due to noise exposure in service.,There is no evidence of toenail fungus during or after service, and the claim for this condition is denied.,Diabetes mellitus was not noted in service and did not manifest within one year of separation. The claim for diabetes mellitus is denied.,Erectile dysfunction was not diagnosed in service or post-service. The claim for erectile dysfunction is denied.,Hypertension was not diagnosed in service or post-service. The claim for hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's scar residual from right breast surgery is granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms of occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.,For diabetes mellitus, the Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board determined a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's application for S-DVI was denied because he did not apply within two years of his last service connection award, and there is no evidence of mental incompetence to extend the time limit.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer was granted. The claim for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.