Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and headaches were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions. The Board denied the claims for these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been granted, with a rating of 10% effective October 12, 2006. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, and coronary artery disease. The Board has determined that additional development of the record is necessary.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability previously characterized as a back strain and granted service connection. The Veteran's cervical spine disability, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and vision disability are not service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's sinusitis did not have onset during his active service and is not etiologically related to his active service. The Veteran has never had retinopathy of either eye.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus requires the use of insulin and a restricted diet, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his disability picture does not warrant one.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been dismissed as this matter is moot due to the RO's award of service connection in an August 2012 rating decision. The remaining claims on appeal are addressed in the remand following the order.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and diabetes mellitus are found to be related to service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, or hypertension that is related to his military service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure and grants the claim, given the presumption of service incurrence based on Vietnam-era service and presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The residuals of a chest injury are also not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cerebral infarction on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). The Veteran's service records show he served in Vietnam during the relevant time period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, both claimed as due to in-service herbicide exposure, were denied. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and that symptoms of peripheral neuropathy did not manifest until many years after service separation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, and there are no unusual or exceptional disability factors warranting referral of the Veteran's claim for TDIU for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Appellant's herbicide exposure at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The claim will be reconsidered based on this additional information.

The Veteran's esophageal dysmotility and stricture were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board finds that there is no indication of a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes is found to have caused his current bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The appeal for upper extremities' neurological disabilities will be remanded as the July 2013 VA examination did not adequately assess these issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is being remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous examination and additional medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen tuberculosis or psychiatric disability claims. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim was also denied as there is no competent credible evidence of its onset in service or due to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is not related to service, as there was no exposure to herbicides or other Agent Orange-related substances during his service. The claim for service connection is denied.