Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service, including as due to herbicide exposure. Service connection is denied for all issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the denial of his claim for total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II based on presumed exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder is secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder and has granted service connection for this condition. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II may be presumed due to herbicide exposure, but there was no evidence of such exposure in service. Service connection for a skin disorder is not addressed as it was remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability is due to injuries sustained during his period of active service, and grants service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence of diabetes mellitus, type II in service or within one year thereafter, and the Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during his service in Korea. Therefore, service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar peripheral neuropathy is in remand status due to the need for additional development and opinions. His pending claim for diabetes mellitus must also be adjudicated before his current claim can be decided.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is rated at 30 percent prior to July 2, 2009 and at 60 percent from July 2, 2009. The effective date of the increased rating remains unclear as it was not specified in the decision.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The Board grants entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II rating is being remanded for further action, including a new VA examination and readjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer residuals, and diabetes mellitus, are found to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a combined disability rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantial gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The case will be reviewed again after obtaining additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records, as well as scheduling a VA examination to determine the impact of his diabetes mellitus on employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed Type II Diabetes, prostate cancer, thyroid condition, and COPD.

The Board found that the Veteran's below-knee amputation was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error. The underlying condition of gangrene was not due to a misdiagnosis and the treatment provided was appropriate.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to procedural defects, including the failure to issue a statement of the case for his disagreement with assigned evaluations and earlier effective dates. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated in conjunction with these issues.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin disorders (tinea versicolor, seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis, and basal cell carcinoma), peripheral neuropathy, and ischemic heart disease were denied as the evidence did not support a direct relationship to his military service.