Diabetes decisions — 2020

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

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of regulation of activities and no episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalizations.,The Veteran's hypertension was initially evaluated with his service-connected diabetes mellitus; however, he is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they were below the threshold of diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more.

The Board denied increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the right and left lower extremities, and diabetic nephropathy with hypertension.

The Board has denied service connection for asbestosis and remanded the issues of service connection for DM, cataract condition, and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure in the Republic of Vietnam or its territorial waters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, prostate cancer, kidney disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The remand requires additional development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service aboard the U.S.S. Hancock.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, or peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes prior to April 20, 2010 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes from April 20, 2010 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's right eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension/dizziness have been denied as service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,While the Veteran reported noise exposure during service, the VA examiner found no significant in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as arthritis, is granted service connection. Service connections for bilateral hip disability, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to his death.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes was granted. The petitions to reopen claims for service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, eye conditions, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were denied.

The Board has remanded two issues related to hypertension and erectile dysfunction, as they are secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran must be provided with another VA examination to determine if these conditions were incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since November 1, 2010. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury related to diabetes mellitus and insufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for bilateral SNHL is denied as there was no evidence of hearing loss during service or within the presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology is not established.,Diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or treatment related to this condition.,Right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied due to lack of evidence of a current diagnosis.,Left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied due to lack of evidence of a current diagnosis.,Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied due to lack of evidence of a current diagnosis.,Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is denied due to lack of evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease are presumed to have been incurred as a result of service due to herbicide exposure. The claims for peripheral neuropathy and hypertension remain pending and need further review.