Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spouse does not meet the criteria for an aid and attendance allowance as her disabilities do not render her unable to care for her daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, renal cancer, bladder cancer, and multiple myeloma are all found to be due to herbicide exposure during service.,With resolution of all reasonable doubt in his favor, the Veteran's diagnoses are considered to be related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further investigation and medical evaluation regarding his liver condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and lung disorder claims. The RO will investigate the alleged hepatitis outbreak on USS Forrestal and provide a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's lung disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and back disorder are not service-connected.,The Veteran has current diagnoses of a lung disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and back disorder. However, the evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran is seeking recognition of his son, D.W.M., as the 'helpless child' due to multiple health conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to fully assess this claim.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 40 percent and he meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and PTSD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on regulation of activities due to diabetes.

The Veteran died from rectal adenocarcinoma with contributory causes of death including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and dementia. The cause of death is not service-connected as there is no evidence linking the cancer to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an updated VA examination and obtaining updated outpatient records. A TDIU claim has also been raised by the record.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from May 10, 2011 is granted. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during active duty service and therefore, his claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are denied as they are not presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the diabetes claim and denying both conditions as not related to his service or herbicide exposure. The ischemic heart disease claim was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim that his substantive appeal was timely filed, as it was received more than 60 days after the date of actual receipt of the SOC and more than one year after the notification of the September 2008 rating decision he had intended to appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for cataracts as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, effective April 17, 2015. The earlier effective date claim for adjustment disorder was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, as the VA examinations and Social Security Administration records indicate he is capable of performing sedentary work.

The Veteran's cause of death was granted service connection, but the appellant is seeking additional benefits due to Agent Orange exposure and pain and suffering. The Board finds that these claims are not legally merited as there is no existing disability for which Nehmer or Agent Orange exposure would be applicable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical opinions and examinations for his service-connected conditions, specifically regarding peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, and an increased rating for PTSD with alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion and additional development of records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Veteran does not have early onset peripheral neuropathy, so service connection cannot be established on a presumptive basis. However, the Board finds that there is no evidence of unremitting symptoms since separation from active duty and thus denies service connection for peripheral neuropathy.