Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service, contributed to his death. As such, the claim of service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues and additional development is needed before a decision can be reached.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is manifested by insulin dependence, a restricted diet, and poorly controlled blood sugar between December 19, 2011, and July 21, 2012. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected right elbow bursitis, left ankle fracture, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities do not warrant a higher disability rating. The claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is granted effective from August 1, 2008.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim can be adjudicated, including seeking an opinion from a suitably qualified environmental toxicologist regarding potential exposure to herbicides during service on the USS Ozbourn. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, will need to be evaluated for its relationship to any such exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and melanoma, finding that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or have exposure to herbicides. The conditions were not chronic in service, did not manifest within one year of separation, and are not etiologically related to service.

The Board has determined that a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was received with regard to the September 2006 and October 2006 rating decisions, which denied service connection for various conditions. The appeal is now remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding these issues.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective July 24, 2006. The Board has also granted a TDIU for the period from February 18, 2012 to January 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam or Thailand. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cardiovascular disability, joint pain, and diabetes mellitus, type II, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have current disabilities of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, vision loss, neuropathy, or a mood disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and ischemic heart disease are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and his erectile dysfunction does not warrant a compensable rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support higher ratings for either condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus does not require insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent, and thus a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and requests for additional VA treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that they render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids is remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a separate sleep disorder, claimed as insomnia, distinct from her service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for further verification of herbicide exposure in Thailand and a VA examination to determine if his current diagnosis is related to service.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is related to in-service herbicide exposure and service connection is granted. The claim for diabetes mellitus remains pending.