Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the denial of his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his military service at Shaw Air Force Base. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the diabetes mellitus claim.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his diabetes mellitus, type II, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left upper extremities do not meet or approximate criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted, while service connection for hypothyroidism is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary artery disease, restrictive lung disease, right knee arthralgia, and residuals of left tibia fracture have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective February 12, 2011. The Veteran's eligibility for DEA under Chapter 35 is also granted effective February 12, 2011. The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of a total disability rating is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues regarding special monthly compensation and financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and vision/glaucoma are being reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not show the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service and there is no competent evidence linking his current diabetes to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death is due to a service-connected disability, but needs further medical opinion to determine if his heart disease, diabetes mellitus, lung cancer and other conditions contributed to his death.

The Veteran's death was caused by bladder cancer, which is a presumptive disease due to radiation exposure during service in Okinawa. The issues of lung cancer, missing 5th rib, fungal infection, PTSD, diabetes, neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of diabetes mellitus. The decision regarding service connection for benign prostate hyperplasia is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange. The claim for a psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The claims for service connection for cirrhosis and hepatitis, as well as DIC, are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism are remanded due to the submission of new evidence that may support these claims. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of the conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are all granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service at or near the Korean DMZ.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and residuals of a left eye injury require further development due to missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction are granted at a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. Diabetes mellitus type II is also granted at a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from April 30, 2009 to August 9, 2009.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and kidney disabilities. The claims are remanded due to the need for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 40 percent, and his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent. The Veteran also received a TDIU rating.