Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it did not require regulation of activities or avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities. Therefore, a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions for service connection of diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities were not conducted prior to the February 2021 and October 2021 AMA rating decisions. The appellant's Air Force Reserve service is considered a period of active duty training (ACDUTRA), which does not qualify for presumptive service connection under VA law.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's service-connected asthma and lumbar spine disabilities caused obesity, which in turn led to the development of diabetes mellitus. The decision is based on a reasonable doubt resolution in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including RLE and LLE peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus type II, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since at least March 2006. Effective from December 17, 2009, the Veteran is granted an effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, thyroid disorder, cirrhosis of the liver, and esophageal varices are all remanded for further development. The issues include service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as diabetes mellitus type II, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide exposure, finding that there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury and no exposure to herbicides. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a link between the current disability and military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure during his time at Takhli Air Force Base in Thailand is granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides and meets the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board is remanding the claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as a higher rating for diabetes mellitus.,Additional development is needed to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of September 12, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis and right shoulder degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's claims of bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus type II are remanded.,Service connection is not granted for the claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current diagnoses and active service.

The Board has determined that there is a duty to assist in verifying the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service, and thus the claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not entitled to an effective date prior to April 28, 2016.,Service connection for hypertension was denied as there is no evidence of its onset in service or within one year of service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, respiratory disorder, and neuropathy of the extremities, have been denied as there is no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout and TDIU due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tooth loss, DMII, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, osteoarthritis, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides, and thus the presumption of herbicide exposure does not apply.,The Veteran's service treatment records did not indicate any dental issues during service, nor were they diagnosed until many years after separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in service and the Veteran did not have a chronic disease during service or within one year after discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 13, 2016, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially-gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral open angle glaucoma with dry eye syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6013. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities has not met the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The diagnoses are presumed related to in-service herbicide exposure.