Diabetes decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and hypothyroidism, both secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for temporal lobe epilepsy and an eye disorder (cataracts and glaucoma), both secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and hypothyroidism were denied as they are not considered directly related to his active duty service. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for temporal lobe epilepsy and an eye disorder (cataracts and glaucoma), both secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has found that the Veteran's Alzheimer’s disease is not related to service and denied his claim.,The Board also found no evidence of bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure and denied his claim for this condition.,For the remaining conditions, including bilateral upper and lower diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis, kidney condition, coronary artery disease, Bell's Palsy, and prostate cancer, additional development is required as no medical nexus opinions have been provided.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes, finding that the Veteran's diabetes does not require regulation of activities.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected and aggravated by his diabetic nephropathy. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 70% for PTSD has been withdrawn. Issues related to a left thigh skin disability, PFB, bilateral hearing loss, CAD, right knee strain with instability, cortical cataracts, SMC based on loss of use, and TDIU prior to March 9, 2006 are all remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 20 percent, effective November 18, 2016. The Board denied increased ratings for the period prior to this date and after it. The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The claims for service connection for right and left hip disorders, as well as for hypertensive cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus type II are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection is also being remanded for a right knee disorder, a left knee disorder, and a left ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's presence in Vietnam. The claims will be reviewed again with consideration of any verified exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. The Veteran's diabetes and peripheral neuropathy are presumed to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during service. Service connection was also granted for residuals of a left clavicle fracture as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of all appeals related to his claims for increased ratings and service connection. The Board has dismissed these appeals as the Veteran explicitly requested their withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related disabilities due to herbicide exposure. The claims are also remanded for further development regarding potential exposure at Camp Carroll in South Korea.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's cause of death, specifically regarding whether his MDS and diabetes were related to service or in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service, specifically in Vietnam. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnamese coast where herbicide exposure may be presumed.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Korea. The cases of peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, blurred vision, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete communication with the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from August 18, 2009 to April 1, 2013. The Board denied the claim for TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular bases.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), kidney failure, liver inflammation/infection, and high blood pressure are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and diabetes, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not presumed due to his military service.,Service connection was also remanded for mitral valve prolapse and asthma.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the service connection claims for colon cancer, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to burn pits during his service at Camp Pendleton.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing impairment, and peripheral neuropathies, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.