Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining VA medical records and private medical records from Dr. White and Dr. Witte.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served in Vietnam and is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. Therefore, service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted as they are presumptively related to such exposure.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, which he claims is due to his exposure to Agent Orange during military service. The Board finds that additional development is necessary and remands the case for obtaining all available VA treatment records from 2003 onwards.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from October 2, 2012 to October 3, 2012 are now reimbursable due to the emergent nature of his condition and the unavailability of VA facilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting medical examinations to assess his diabetes mellitus and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral arterial disease, hypertension, and bilateral cataracts have been rated at 10 percent since July 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for liver disorder, gallbladder disorder, kidney lesions and stones, body stress rash release and trauma, polymyalgia rheumatic, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The remaining issues are pending.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is pending.

The Veteran's cholangiocarcinoma is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Diabetes mellitus, which was already service connected at the time of death, contributed substantially or materially to cause the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, peripheral neuropathy, and brachial neuritis were denied. The claim for higher rating of diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and development of records, particularly regarding the relationship between the Veteran's erectile dysfunction and his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

Since October 12, 2006, the Veteran's service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities has been manifested by moderate incomplete paralysis with symptoms including numbness, mild paresthesia and/or dysesthesias, moderate constant pain, reduced muscle strength, intermittent decreased or absent sensation, and intermittently increased DTRs. The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for each affected limb.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders. The Veteran's claims were based on exposure to environmental toxins during his deployment in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The left inguinal hernia was not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, both potentially related to his military service in Thailand. The Board has determined that further development is needed, including verification of Agent Orange exposure and a VA examination.

The Veteran's combined schedular evaluation of all service-connected disabilities has been 70 percent or more throughout the appeal period, and it is reasonably shown that by virtue of his service-connected disabilities, he is precluded from participating in any substantially gainful employment consistent with his education/training and experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus does not require regulation of activities, and thus, his disability is rated at the minimum level (20%) as per Diagnostic Code 7913. The evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for service connection for heart disability and diabetes. The claim for service connection for heart disability remains denied, while the claim for service connection for diabetes is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is caused, at least in part, by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and related medications did not cause or contribute to his death.