Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with the effective date being November 15, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability decision records. The Veteran's lumbar spine claim must be adjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims currently on appeal, including those related to type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, PTSD, diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board found no credible evidence of herbicide exposure and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II and adenocarcinoma of the colon.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus requires treatment with insulin and a restricted diet, and his VA medical provider has regulated his occupational and recreational activities due to the severity of the disability. The Board finds that a 40 percent rating is warranted for diabetes mellitus throughout the claims period.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional examination and medical opinion to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, to include as a result of alleged exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam, is denied. The Board found no credible evidence supporting direct or presumptive service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The claim for a back condition was reopened but remains denied due to lack of in-service injury or incident.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's IHD and type II diabetes mellitus are related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, which is presumed for Vietnam Era veterans. The neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and erectile dysfunction have not been addressed by the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his increased ratings of diabetic nephropathy and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, finding that no increase in disability occurred within one year prior to the claim.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome due to sepsis and cirrhosis, which were linked to his service-connected PTSD. As a result, the Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA treatment records, specifically an April 15, 2010, VA Ukiah Clinic Telephone Contact Note. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus will be reconsidered with this new evidence.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 60 percent, effective August 12, 2014. The ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are maintained. A TDIU rating is granted.

The Board is remanding the claim for further development and readjudication due to failure to comply with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cardiovascular disease. Additionally, a new opinion regarding whether hypertension is aggravated by diabetes mellitus will be provided.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise on whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, and asthma are secondary to his service-connected organophosphate delayed onset injuries. As such, these claims have been granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the rating for diabetes, resulting in the dismissal of this matter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected conditions, finding that VA could not have obtained the 1966 report due to insufficient information provided by the Veteran at the time of his July 2002 claim.

The Board has granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran was stationed near the perimeter of Ubon RTAFB in Thailand where he likely served as a weapons mechanic exposed to herbicides.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred during service or due to exposure to herbicides. The Board found insufficient medical evidence to support the claim that his diabetes began during or is causally related to service-connected disabilities.