Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II as a result of exposure to mustard gas, herbicides, asbestos exposure, and/or contaminated water due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service, and whether his unit conducted short deployments into Vietnam or Thailand. The case is being remanded for further investigation.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for status post shrapnel wound to the face, service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and a compensable rating for posttraumatic headaches have all been granted.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant an increase to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent and does not warrant an increase to a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 10 percent and does not warrant an increase to a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right leg radiculopathy, left leg radiculopathy, and diabetes mellitus have been denied.,The Veteran’s PTSD claim prior to April 27, 2016 remains on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, and diabetic neuropathy due to the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection is denied for an eye disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from sedentary employment, and the Board finds that he is not unemployable solely due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and a heart disability were denied as they are not related to service or the one-year presumptive period. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure at Camp Pendleton.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease as a result of exposure to herbicide agents are granted. The claim for residuals of bilateral toenail removal is reopened and the issue is remanded for further examination. Service connection for tooth #9 dental disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inextricably intertwined issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a May 2008 rating decision that denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus. The effective date issue on appeal is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was previously denied, and new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and right hip disorders is denied as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during service or within one year after separation.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his service-connected conditions and his death.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for diabetes, type II is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD), lumbar spine L5-S1 with right lumbar radicular syndrome, claimed as low back with pinched nerve, right hip and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Veteran served aboard ships within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam, but specific records are needed to determine if he was exposed.

The Veteran's diabetes and related peripheral neuropathy disabilities are being remanded for further examination and rating consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has precluded him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation since January 22, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU based on the PTSD disability. Additionally, the Veteran is entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to his combined 100 percent schedular rating for service-connected disabilities.

Your appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claim is no longer under consideration as it has become moot.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for numbness and tingling of the bilateral hands, right lower extremity, left lower extremity, right hand, and left hand. The diabetes mellitus claim is remanded for further development. The remaining issues are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic nephropathy, as well as earlier effective dates for service-connected bilateral peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's diabetes is currently rated at 20 percent, while his diabetic nephropathy is rated at 60 percent.

The Veteran's death was related to service, specifically an in-service motor vehicle accident that caused a head injury and lacerations. The Board is remanding the case for further development regarding whether the USS Pine Island operated within Vietnam's territorial sea during the Veteran's service aboard the ship.