Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicides during his military service meets the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type I was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by such service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the RO's decision to sever service connection for diabetes mellitus was not in accordance with the law and restored this disability from December 1, 2011.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death, and thus does not grant service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not need a higher level of care without which he would require hospitalization, nursing home care, or other residential institutional care. Therefore, SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(r)(2) is denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and glaucoma. The case is being remanded to obtain the Veteran's service personnel records, including documentation of any transfers or temporary duty records related to his claimed Vietnam service.

The Veteran's service connection for prostate cancer was granted, but his claim for diabetes mellitus type II associated with herbicide exposure was withdrawn. The initial rating for prostate cancer remains at 40 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes requires insulin and restricted diet, but does not require regulation of activities or complications. The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's diabetes requires regulation of activities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and consideration of his claims for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to the lapse in time since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder (claimed as kidney cancer), and skin disorder are all found to be related to his service exposure to herbicides. The claims for these conditions are therefore granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including residuals of CABG, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and diabetic nephropathy, are sufficient to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As a result, TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The evidence did not support a finding of herbicide exposure during service, and therefore presumptive service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is denied as he did not meet the criteria under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725 and 38 C.F.R. § 17.120.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for type II diabetes mellitus was granted, but the Board found that his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. The Veteran's onychomycosis of the toenails with tinea pedis, bilaterally, more closely approximated to the criteria for a 20 percent rating as analogous to scarring.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus that is related to service. The Veteran's service treatment records did not show any complaints, treatments, or findings of these conditions during his military service. His current diagnoses were first noted many years after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus, type II are related to service. However, the claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus, PTSD service connection, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for diabetes mellitus or service connection for PTSD or bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, which prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic mononeuritis were reopened, but both conditions were denied as not related to service or herbicide exposure.