Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, including as due to herbicide exposure during his service in Guam, is being remanded for additional development and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's systemic sclerosis was incurred during his period of active service from May to June 2005. The issue of entitlement to service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, claimed as secondary to systemic sclerosis and arthritis, is also addressed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, PTSD, and hepatitis C during the October 2013 hearing on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining ship logs from the USS Jouett (DLG-29) while in the official waters of the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, which he claims is due to his exposure to herbicides during service in Korea. The RO has not verified the Veteran's claimed exposure and must do so before making a decision on his claim.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of the delimiting date for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30 of Title 38 due to a period of disability from October 1, 2001 to April 30, 2003 is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during service, and thus could not establish presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus. The claim was also denied on a direct basis as there is no evidence of a disease in service or a relationship between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and Type 2 diabetes mellitus were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's chronic conditions, including lymphedema of the left leg, diabetes mellitus type II, and spinal stenosis, require regular aid and attendance from another person. The Board has determined that these conditions meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed to the cause of death due to renal cell carcinoma.

The Board has directed the VA to provide a remand for additional development and examination regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues regarding hypertension and coronary artery disease were not addressed.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus, and separate ratings of 40 percent each for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities. The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy is also rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not meet criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7913 (diabetes) or Diagnostic Codes 8516 and 8521 (peripheral nerves).

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, cancer of the right glottic larynx, and cancer of the left parotid gland as they are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined, result in such severity as to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and is not presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and found that he was exposed to herbicides in Thailand. As a result, his DM is presumed to be related to military service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral foot disability, and right ankle disability. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability remains denied as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and sleep apnea were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor are they related to any incident therein. The Board found no evidence of continuity of symptomatology.