Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus is found to be causally related to his Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA), and the claim for secondary service connection for CVA is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's end stage liver disease, which was a principal cause of his death, is service connected as it developed due to alcohol use disorder secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that they were not related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for aid and attendance of another person, as evidenced by his inability to dress or undress himself, take care of hygiene needs, prepare meals, manage medications, and attend to personal needs. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus type II are not service-connected, but coronary artery disease is presumed to have been incurred during his military service.,PTSD has resulted in current disability that warrants a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent and the evidence does not show that it requires insulin or regulation of activities. Therefore, a higher rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for both coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II, based on the presumption of exposure to herbicides during active military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to his Vietnam-era exposure. Service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are also granted as these conditions are related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in February 2007 and not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The RO found that the Veteran's pre-service hypertension existed prior to service.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus was granted on the basis of aggravation, with a non-compensable rating as it remained at least partially disabling before service. The Veteran does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus. However, the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or have any documented exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange during his military service. The weight of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's currently diagnosed conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities (type 2 diabetes mellitus with onychomycosis of all toes on both feet, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction) is 70 percent. The Board finds that these conditions render him incapable of maintaining regular substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a vocational examination and re-adjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Board has previously denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, but the case is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to care for most of his daily personal needs or to protect himself from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment without the assistance of others, warranting special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be adult respiratory distress syndrome, with diabetes mellitus type I and arteriosclerotic heart disease as contributing conditions. The VA examiner found no evidence suggesting a positive correlation between the Veteran's PTSD and his development of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ARDS, or arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, erectile dysfunction, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal is based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Korea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type II is granted due to his exposure to herbicides while serving at the Royal Thai Air Force Base in Udorn, Thailand. The issue of service connection for GERD and chronic diarrhea remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities have resulted in permanent loss of use of his lower extremities, requiring him to use a wheelchair for safe locomotion. The Board has granted financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, but a VA examination is needed to determine the combined effects of all his conditions.