Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case to the Louisville, Kentucky RO for further development due to new service personnel records. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of death secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune. A VA medical examiner is needed to provide an opinion on whether any of the Veteran's causes of death are causally or etiologically related to his presumed in-service exposure to contaminated water.

The Board found no evidence of a direct or secondary service connection for the claimed conditions, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been at least 70 percent since April 10, 2007, and 90 percent since October 18, 2012. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with nephropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but his diabetic nephropathy has been rated separately and effectively since August 1, 2010. The Board finds that the criteria for a separate 30 percent rating for diabetic nephropathy have been met.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying herbicide exposure. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with bipolar disorder II is being evaluated for its potential impact on his hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant, and as such, these claims are granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol, right knee disability, left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and an eye disability have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The appeal of his diabetes mellitus claim has been withdrawn by the Veteran. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a member of the Board.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7913, which requires insulin and a restricted diet. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his diabetes mellitus does not require regulation of activities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen these claims. The Board also found no service connection for certain disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left ankle muscle sprains was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis of the ankle in plantar flexion at more than 40 degrees or in dorsiflexion at more than 10 degrees. The TDIU claim was also denied due to the Veteran's combined disability rating and his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his service, including any exposure to hazardous chemicals. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, a compensable disability evaluation for hallux valgus and pes planus disabilities. The decision also noted that there was no evidence of diabetes being incurred during service or due to Anthrax vaccinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides in Thailand and insufficient medical evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy of the eyes with pigment epithelial detachment is etiologically related to service, including conceded herbicide exposure. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, have been denied due to a lack of diagnosed disability.