Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and lung disease. The Veteran's claims were based on direct service connection rather than presumptive exposure to herbicides or other environmental toxins.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, acting alone, require the need of assistance for daily activities such as hygiene and medication management. The Board finds that aid and attendance is warranted solely because of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is service-connected. The Board also found that the Veteran has peripheral neuropathy in his upper and lower extremities as a result of his diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether hypertension is aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have not met the criteria for a higher rating during the appeal period. The Veteran's hypertension has also not been found to warrant an increased disability rating.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent and does not require regulation of activities. His erectile dysfunction has been evaluated separately as noncompensable.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 50 percent rating since December 7, 2009. His diabetes mellitus, type II disability remains at the non-compensable level.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board.

The Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred during his service in Thailand due to herbicide exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the award of TDIU benefits should be November 24, 2008, but no earlier.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not render him unemployable as he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations and review of the claims file, including new evidence. The issues include increased ratings for diabetes, aphakia, and Hodgkin's disease, as well as a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims will be re-adjudicated after obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed left knee disability, and his service-connected lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings. The Veteran's tinea pedis is rated appropriately, as are his hearing loss and CTS. His acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle condition, and head injury with headaches and myofascial pain syndrome do not warrant increased ratings. Finally, the Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dementia due to diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, cataracts, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected disabilities, including erectile dysfunction. The Veteran was not granted a compensable evaluation for his erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the RO's failure to comply with prior remand directives. The Veteran is requested to schedule a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to toxic herbicides and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including the adjudication of service connection claims for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a cardiac condition, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, and sleep apnea. The RO will also provide the Veteran with VA examinations and opinions in connection with his TDIU claim.