Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and employment records from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and former employer (USPS). A new VA examination will be conducted to assess the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment and to determine whether his hypertension is caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider his claims of service connection for various conditions including diabetes mellitus, heart disability, hypertension, enlarged prostate, and respiratory disorder. The claims will be considered based on herbicide exposure, lead-based paint exposure, and asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and Type II diabetes mellitus are presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicides during service at the Korat RTAFB in Thailand. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinea pedis with onychomycosis was granted. However, the Board found that there is no evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served in Vietnam and is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during service. Therefore, type II diabetes mellitus is granted as presumptively related to such exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) was denied as there is no evidence of in-service disease or injury and no continuity of symptomatology after service. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not reflect that the Veteran has had a mole removed from the left arm or a related keloid. Therefore, service connection for mole removal/keloid, left arm is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and whether they are related to service. The claims will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders, knee and ankle injuries, a muscle disorder, diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an anxiety disorder. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 20 percent. The issue of service connection for a skin disability has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA medical records and scheduling a new VA examination. Additionally, an effective date earlier than June 8, 2015, for the grant of a 100 percent rating for end stage renal failure with hypertension needs to be addressed.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating. The evidence does not show that his diabetes requires insulin, an oral hypoglycemic agent (Metformin), and a regulation of activities.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to verify the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam and to obtain his complete Official Military Personnel File (OMPF).

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial 50 percent rating prior to December 18, 2008 and a 70 percent rating from that date through August 16, 2010.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues on appeal prior to the Board issuing a final decision.

Service connection for otitis media, chronic anxiety (PTSD), ischemic heart disease, gastroparesis, skin lesions on the feet bilaterally, and diabetes mellitus has been granted.,Effective dates have been assigned for each condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hypertension and its relation to service, as well as other issues related to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 25, 2007 for service connection of diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence of a claim filed before that date.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development and readjudication.