Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claims are presumed based on his military service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis of the back and left hip has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining English translations of Spanish documents and treatment records from the San Juan VAMC. A VA examination will be scheduled to evaluate his diabetes with hypertension and nephropathy condition, as well as a nerve examination to determine which nerves were impacted in April/May 2010.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus required insulin and a restricted diet prior to July 18, 2012. Since then, it has required insulin and a restricted diet but not regulation of activities. The Board found that the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy did not have their onset during his periods of honorable service, nor were they related to such service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities. The rating for diabetes mellitus remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus, type II is etiologically related to his exposure to toxic chemicals during service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in the Republic of Vietnam qualifying for the presumption of exposure to tactical herbicide agents under 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6)(iii). Therefore, the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are denied as they do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from April 18, 2014, to March 18, 2016. Therefore, his claim for TDIU during this period is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, based on exposure to Agent Orange during service in Okinawa, Japan.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted it. The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hand disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, bilateral hip bursitis, skin disorder, right shoulder disorder, and alcoholic pancreatitis are all denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for cause of death. The Veteran's death was caused by cardiopulmonary arrest, secondary to sepsis, secondary to community acquired pneumonia with significant factors being uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected diabetic retinopathy as of May 8, 2010 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability rating and service connection have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals in August 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as right-sided sciatica), and Peyronie's disease with erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims are now resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II with diabetic nephropathy and erectile dysfunction was denied. The issue of a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.