Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure at U-Tapao RTAFB. The Veteran's MOS was hydrant pumphouse operator and he served near the base perimeter during his time there.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension due to lack of evidence supporting herbicide exposure. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, right leg neuropathy, left leg neuropathy, and a heart disability due to insufficient information regarding in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, both claimed as due to exposure to Agent Orange during his Navy service. The RO needs to verify if the USS Kitty Hawk was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam while he served aboard.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new examination of the veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, as his symptoms have worsened since his last VA examination in July 2015. The appellant is also advised to provide records from Dr. A.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied as there is no probative evidence showing he was exposed to herbicide agents during his service.,The Veteran's claim for right knee disability is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to active service.,The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are denied because there is insufficient evidence to establish a secondary relationship with diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened, and he is granted service connection for headaches. Service connection for OSA is denied. The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent throughout the period under review. His type two diabetes mellitus is currently rated as 20 percent disabling with no additional peripheral neuropathy disabilities. Increased ratings are granted for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, residuals of lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claims for erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity are remanded. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, Type II, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as there was no in-service event or injury related to these conditions. The Veteran's statements regarding the onset of his disabilities were not considered competent evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes, cataracts, erectile dysfunction, residuals of stroke, and hypertension. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diabetes.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and loss of the right leg below the knee due to diabetic complications. The decision is based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied. The claims for erectile dysfunction and hypertension were also denied. However, the Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, to include as due to herbicide exposure is granted on a presumptive basis based on his travel through the perimeter of Udorn RTAFB in Thailand.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Korea is presumed and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the claimant.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no disability evaluation greater than 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral onychomycosis is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for obstructive sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, psychiatric disabilities, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, nasal fracture residuals, left hand disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, headache, sinus disability, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. The Board also remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for herpes simplex.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's discharge from the hospital was due to negligence or carelessness.

The claim for service connection for fibromyalgia is granted with an effective date of February 10, 2017. The other claims remain denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran was not previously service-connected for any conditions, but his diabetes mellitus is related to his active service and led or contributed to his cause of death.