Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction has been managed by the use of insulin and an oral hypoglycemic agent. Regulation of activities was not required to control diabetes for the entire initial rating period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that diabetes mellitus did not manifest during or within one year of separation from active service and was not caused by active service. Hyperlipidemia is considered a laboratory result rather than a disability. The other conditions were also not found to have manifested during service or be causally related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service, particularly at Ubon Airfield in Thailand. The AOJ is instructed to expand its search for information on the Veteran's movements and duties while stationed there.

The Veteran was granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure in January 2008, effective September 26, 2007. The claim was filed on a formal basis after the initial submission of medical evidence and form.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin rash, and respiratory disorder. The examiner will consider exposure to photochemicals during service as part of their assessment.

The Board has determined that additional medical inquiry is needed to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is related to his service in Korea and/or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service did not involve duty or visitation to Vietnam, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Board finds that diabetes mellitus, COPD, hypertension, and lumbar radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus, are denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder and found new and material evidence to support it. However, there is no specific rating assigned or effective date provided in this decision summary as the issues are mixed (some granted, some not). The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not meet the criteria for financial assistance to purchase an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and a heart disorder related to service or secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral cataracts have been rated at 40% since December 10, 2008. The rating decision also granted an increased rating for his diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims of service connection for residuals of a stroke, to include secondary to diabetes mellitus, and an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus. The Board dismisses the appeal.

The Veteran claims service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, which he attributes to herbicide exposure during his military service. The Board finds that a VA medical examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran currently has diabetes and its type, as well as whether he was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam. If applicable, additional research should be conducted at the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) or other appropriate entity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition (also claimed as allergies) has been reopened and is now considered. The Board finds that the additional evidence received since the November 2006 rating decision relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim, specifically whether the current respiratory condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, type II was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Veteran's brief presence in Vietnam during service is presumed to have exposed him to herbicides, including Agent Orange. Therefore, he is granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II, as well as diabetic peripheral neuropathy on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's lung cancer, Type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and chronic kidney disease with renal failure are all presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.