Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while stationed in Thailand during his service, and therefore grants service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type 2, neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, and lung disorder as due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for colitis, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and residuals of a stroke due to lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II, is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Board finds that the Veteran has peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and remands for further examination and opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and Parkinson’s disease due to exposure to Agent Orange are granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and asthma. The claim of service connection for a low back disorder is being remanded.,The Veteran was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type II, but her obesity did not cause it. Her current diagnosis of asthma does not have an in-service onset or relationship to her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting both lower extremities, have resulted in loss of use of his legs for the purposes of eligibility for specially adapted housing. Additionally, he is eligible for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand, and the disease is presumed to have been caused by this exposure.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for depression has been reopened.,Claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for right upper extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome, right lower extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral diabetic neuropathy have all been dismissed as freestanding claims. The original decisions granting these conditions were final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to March 31, 2014, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to March 31, 2014, for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.,The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date prior to February 17, 2013, for the grant of service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome has been dismissed as a freestanding claim. The original decision granting this condition was final.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and Parkinson's disease as the evidence did not establish exposure to herbicides in service or a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling since February 7, 2011. The Board also granted a TDIU from the same date due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board also remanded the case for a determination on whether the Veteran's bilateral eye disorder is related to his diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus on the basis of exposure to herbicide agents, finding that the Veteran's layover in Saigon during his active duty was sufficient evidence of exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, and lung cancer due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service herbicide exposure or direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to lack of a nexus opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or any other related conditions.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied for diabetic retinopathy of left eye with macular edema as there is no evidence that VA's care caused the worsening of the condition.,The Board also denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left foot osteomyelitis, status post left first ray amputation due to lack of evidence showing VA negligence or fault in causing the disability.

The Veteran's chronic headaches have been granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since active service.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, has been denied as there is no evidence it was incurred during or within one year after the Veteran's completion of active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to herbicide agent exposure is granted. The Board also grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral knee disability, headaches, cardiac disease, and memory loss due to insufficient information in the record.,The Veteran's DM is being remanded as there was no consideration of his lifestyle and diet during service or exposure to environmental hazards while serving in Southwest Asia.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is being remanded because the examiner did not consider the February 1993 report indicating degenerative joint disease, nor the Veteran’s history of knee pain since service.,The Veteran's headaches are being remanded due to insufficient consideration of his reported history and March 2015 VA treatment record.,The Veteran's CAD is being remanded as there was no consideration of his lifestyle and diet during service or exposure to environmental hazards while serving in the Persian Gulf War.,The Veteran's memory loss is being remanded due to insufficient consideration of his other diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn appeals for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, except for the TDIU claim which is remanded.