Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred during his service due to herbicide exposure. The Board grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including an appropriate VA examination to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, which was granted in July 2010. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address his September 2009 informal claim for increased ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II as a result of herbicide exposure in Thailand. The claim for skin cancer on the head is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not the Veteran LW and therefore cannot establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to be the cause of his strokes. He is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his stroke-related disabilities, which require assistance with daily activities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for service-connected diabetes mellitus has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of the appeal in writing.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pinguecula is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, diagnosed as a depressive disorder, is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disability, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for a scar of the right lower extremity is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for a scar of the left lower extremity is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for the residuals of bronchopneumonia is on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for defective vision is on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, with associated erectile dysfunction has not required regulation of activities during the appeal period.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently managed with restricted diet and insulin injections, but does not require hospitalization or restriction of strenuous activities. The current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer was denied as the evidence did not show that the condition occurred in service or due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for asthma and diabetes mellitus, type II were reopened based on new evidence received since the previous denial.,Service connection for hypothyroidism could not be established as there is no competent medical evidence linking it to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is less than the schedular percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus have been granted service connection, but the hypertension claim is denied. The initial rating for diabetes mellitus has been established at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus and colon cancer due to procedural errors in the handling of the Veteran's appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bronchitis, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU due to his combined rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 11, 2012 is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of coronary artery disease is granted and rated at 60 percent.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD with a depressive disorder is granted and rated at 50 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and eye disorder manifested by loss of sight, and these claims are reopened.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and eye disorder manifested by loss of sight, and these claims are reopened.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bradycardia is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left renal cyst is denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of August 29, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma, bilateral heel spurs with plantar fasciitis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were not incurred or aggravated in service. The claims are denied.