Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and an opinion from a specialist regarding the relationship between the Veteran's pancreatic cancer and his presumed herbicide exposure and/or chronic diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, low back strain, diabetes mellitus, cervical strain, and multiple knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that a TDIU rating is warranted based on the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam. The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining ships logs and scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete documentation and the need to provide notice in accordance with Kent v. Nicholson.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent. The claims for increased ratings have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for type I diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and his left knee scar is rated at 10 percent. The claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and peptic ulcer disease, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim for arthritis of the right knee was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.,Diabetes mellitus and peptic ulcer disease were not shown within one year of service separation, and there is no current disability associated with either condition.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for diabetic retinopathy of both eyes, effective November 25, 2008. The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper and left upper extremities remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against the Veteran's claim for service connection for macular degeneration, finding no direct or secondary relationship to his service-connected conditions. The arthritis of the spine claim was also denied.

Service connection for frostbite injury of the left and right feet was granted with an initial disability rating of 30 percent effective September 15, 2000.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea have been granted service connection. The issue of special monthly compensation for loss of use of creative organ is inextricably intertwined with the secondary service connection claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes and neuromuscular dystrophy did not have their onset in active military service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation, and has not otherwise been shown to be related to service. Service connection was denied for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected erectile dysfunction does not warrant a compensable disability rating, and his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent. The appeal for increased ratings was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, a tumor, and leukocytosis due to radiation exposure were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for type 2 diabetes mellitus is granted due to his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, as he set foot on land or served on inland waters of Vietnam during his active duty.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation for service-connected diabetes mellitus was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7913.