Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to be service connected due to in-service herbicide exposure. The Board has remanded the claims for restless leg syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that the Veteran's condition was not causally related to his military service and did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents during his active service in Thailand.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II has been rated at 20 percent since the initial grant of service connection in April 2017. The Board found that his condition did not warrant a higher evaluation as it only required restricted diet, oral hypoglycemics, and one daily insulin injection.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for a spleen disability. Service connection was granted for sarcoidosis, hypertension, depressive disorder, pituitary gland tumor, diabetes insipidus, fatigue disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU. Prior to January 23, 2012, the Veteran was granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, effective from April 17, 2008. The rating for his heart disability remains at 30 percent and the rating for his diabetes remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU, and his employment was not precluded due to these conditions. The Board denied the claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, finding that the Veteran's condition is currently treated with oral medication and a restricted diet but not requiring regulation of activities.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to an extraschedular rating for left ear hearing loss as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) during the entire period on appeal. The issue of service connection for residuals of a stroke is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for high blood pressure, diabetes, and stomach condition associated with contaminated water at Camp Lejeune due to lack of evidence showing these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service exposure.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's hypertension is not one of the presumptively associated conditions with contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.