Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides while aboard the USS Topeka in Da Nang Harbor, Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type 2, both claimed as secondary to service-connected sleep apnea, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary service connection.,Hypertension was not caused by or worsened in severity by the Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea and did not begin in service.

The Board has vacated its October 2018 decision and remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, ED, and skin cancer. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding his exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, increased rating for post-discectomy L5-S1, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The issues include service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II or herbicide exposure, an increased rating for post-discectomy L5-S1, a compensable rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 6, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for left leg amputation, seizure disorder status post brain injury, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus type II as these conditions are not related to active duty service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claims were based on the presumption of herbicide exposure in Vietnam, but his period of service did not qualify him under this presumption.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied because there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, Type II (DMII) is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The claims for residuals of bladder cancer and myelodysplastic syndrome are remanded as the Veteran has not yet been provided VA examinations regarding these conditions.

The claim for service connection for DMII, to include as secondary to PTSD, is remanded. A new TDIU claim was also raised by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) secondary to herbicide exposure is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, as secondary to his service-connected DMII, is also granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a vision condition, as secondary to his service-connected DMII, is denied. The Board finds no evidence linking the Veteran's vision condition to his service-connected DMII.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetic retinopathy has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for service-connected diabetes mellitus have been dismissed.,Restoration of 20 percent rating from September 1, 2017 for service-connected sciatic nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is granted.,Restoration of 20 percent rating from September 1, 2017 for service-connected sciatic nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is granted.,The Veteran's appeal for more than a 20 percent initial rating for service-connected femoral nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for more than a 20 percent initial rating for service-connected femoral nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and hypertension due to unresolved issues regarding potential herbicide exposure. The Veteran's military service on USS St. Paul is also under review.

Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure is granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and he is now granted service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), a headache disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims for other conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a recent court decision that expanded the definition of 'service in the Republic of Vietnam' and its impact on service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's vessel was within 12 nautical miles of the shores of the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to new evidence indicating possible herbicide agent exposure. If confirmed, a VA medical opinion will be sought to determine if the Veteran's melanoma is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected depression and type II diabetes mellitus are found to have worsened, necessitating a new VA examination to assess their impact on his ability to work.