Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, including a VA medical opinion to address whether the service-connected back disability contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type 2, are granted as these conditions are presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service.

Service connection is granted for type 2 diabetes and pancreatitis, both presumed to be related to service due to herbicide exposure. The claim for pancreatitis remains pending as a VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remand is in response to the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (BWN Act), which changed how VA considers presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure in offshore waters of Vietnam.

The Veteran's adult child, the Appellant, is not considered permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday. Therefore, she does not qualify as a helpless child for VA benefits and her claim for DIC benefits is denied.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicide agents during military service and to obtain additional opinions regarding the etiology of his aortic valve condition. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,New and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of service connection for various conditions, including dysmenorrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, bilateral ankle disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee strain, right knee strain, restless legs syndrome, HPV, infertility, gallbladder surgery, tremors and spasms to face and hands, itching, pain, and scars, and VA medical treatment.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as service-connected because it was caused by his medication for bipolar disorder. Special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ is also granted.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development due to the receipt of new treatment records.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.,Service connection for neuropathy of the right lower extremity as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus is granted.,Service connection for neuropathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus is granted.,Service connection for nephropathy (kidney disease) as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.,Service connection for colon cancer due to herbicide exposure is granted.,Service connection for hypertension due to herbicide exposure is granted.

The Veteran's diabetes, requiring insulin and a restricted diet, has been granted a 40 percent disability rating for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and related peripheral neuropathy conditions. The Veteran's vision problems were found not to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease secondary to hypertension is granted. The claim for service connection for COPD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension (secondary to diabetes mellitus), diabetes mellitus, a bilateral eye disorder, missing toes of the right foot, and a quarter of the left leg amputated. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records and any private treatment records from Oklahoma City. Additional development may be necessary.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to March 23, 2016 has been denied due to lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship between the conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death is due to underlying causes of coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type 2. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam and grants service connection for his cause of death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure during service. Headaches and hypertension are denied.