Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a current diagnosis and noting that elevated blood sugar levels do not constitute a disability.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be causally related to herbicide agent exposure during service. The bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is found to be a complication of the service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied. The Board finds that additional development of the evidence is required to determine whether service connection for bladder cancer is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam or Thailand. The Veteran's claims were not legally possible due to lack of service-connected primary condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prediabetes, allergic rhinitis, helicobacter pylori, hypertension, osteoarthritis, a back disability (secondary to bilateral foot disability), and right and left knee disabilities. The effective dates were not addressed as they are not relevant to the disposition.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the appellant's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that the evidence did not support a requirement for regulation of activities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetic retinopathy has been withdrawn by his attorney of record, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus is granted, and the claims for service connection for varicose veins, viral meningitis, right knee disability, bilateral flatfeet, shin splints (to include as due to bilateral flatfeet), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 12, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his deployment in Thailand and thus presumptively related to this exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II on a presumptive basis due to in-service herbicide exposure during the Vietnam Era.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective December 11, 2019. The appeal for higher ratings prior to this date was denied.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and readjudicating the service connection claims. The appeals are not about service connection via a presumption like PACT Act/Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred as a result of active duty service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s peripheral neuropathy was not manifest during active service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was not manifest during active service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s eye disability was not manifest during active service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's arthritis of the shoulders, back, hips and feet was not manifest during active service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran’s vertigo was not manifest during active service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's pancreatic cancer was not manifest during active service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted as it is at least as likely as not that the condition began in service and has persisted since.,The Veteran's kidney cancer claim is denied because there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service, nor any indication that the condition manifested within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded due to the possibility of delayed onset tinnitus and insufficient rationale for the November 2016 VA examiner’s opinion.,The Veteran's left knee disability claim is remanded as there are no medical opinions regarding a nexus between in-service complaints and current disabilities.,The Veteran's right knee disability claim is remanded due to lack of medical evidence addressing the relationship between service and current knee conditions.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is remanded because there is insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and ischemic heart disease claims are both remanded as exposure to herbicide agents in service must be verified before a determination can be made on these claims.,The Veteran's respiratory disability claim is remanded due to the possibility of secondary service connection for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus with microalbuminuria is rated at 40 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The RO previously increased the rating to 40 percent effective January 4, 2011.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for diabetic retinopathy needs to be remanded due to incomplete examination documentation.

The Veteran's current Type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be due to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam, and thus he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, coronary artery disease, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, gastroparesis, and nerve impairments in the left lower extremity, cause him to be unable to seek or maintain gainful employment.

The appeals seeking increased ratings for depression, right ankle degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, and reopening claims for diabetes mellitus, gout, and left ankle condition have been dismissed.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back condition, bilateral flat feet, and right and left lower leg/foot conditions.