Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service at U-Tapao Royal Thai Airforce Base in Thailand is presumed. The decision also notes that the Veteran worked on or near the perimeter of the base for approximately six months.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were denied initial disability ratings. The Veteran was granted TDIU on a schedular basis but not on an extraschedular basis prior to February 19, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a TDIU rating from August 9, 2012. The case is remanded for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes, and related neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has accepted the Veteran's legacy NOD as timely and remanded for development, including issuance of an SOC. The issues of higher ratings for coronary artery disease, migraine headaches, and diabetes mellitus type II are now before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and service, or any other compensable basis.,The effective date for service connection has been granted for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypothyroidism are granted as they are presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service at the Korat RTAFB in Thailand.

The claims for service connection for a low back disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, right knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and substance use disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, esophageal disorder (GERD and hiatal hernia), and erectile dysfunction are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The claims for service connection for a low back disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, right knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and substance use disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, esophageal disorder (GERD and hiatal hernia), and erectile dysfunction are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has diabetes mellitus and whether it is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of herbicide exposure and thus presumptive service connection was not warranted.

The Board has decided that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer as a result of exposure to herbicide agents can be adjudicated. The VA will need to obtain authorization and request private treatment records from St. Luke's Medical Center, Dr. S.M., Dr. J.T., Dr. C.L., and Dr. J.S. Additionally, efforts should be made to verify whether the USS Intrepid operated within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam during the Veteran's service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and OSA secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder due to insufficient evidence in previous opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to Agent Orange exposure, as well as chemical and radiation exposure. The VA is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposures and schedule him for further examinations if necessary.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and/or ISHD. The case will be returned for a new medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of daily insulin injections or regulation of activities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since April 29, 2015. The Board has granted TDIU for the periods from April 29, 2015 to June 9, 2016 and from August 1, 2018 to May 20, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the RLE and LLE, testicular cancer, and erectile dysfunction due to service connection. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, and right knee condition were previously denied. New evidence has not been received to readjudicate these issues.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus was also remanded due to the need to corroborate his assertions of Vietnam exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and transient ischemic attack were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted with evaluations of 20 percent each, effective from July 15, 2017. The diabetes mellitus is granted at a 20 percent evaluation throughout the period on appeal.