Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his service at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss service connection is denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at U-Tapao Air Force Base in Thailand.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss must be remanded for an updated VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is remanded for a nexus opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are both remanded for a VA examination and medical opinion.,The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are all remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination and lack of lab results following the Veteran's June 2006 pre-deployment assessment. The Veteran contends that his diabetes mellitus began in service, but VA records show no definitive diagnosis until after service.

The Veteran's cause of death was end stage congestive heart failure, which is presumed to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death due to presumptive exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea due to exposure to jet fuel in service. The Veteran is requested to provide more details about his alleged in-service herbicide exposure and VA will attempt to confirm whether C-123 aircraft were serviced or maintained at any location during his Vietnam-era service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented them from obtaining and maintaining employment prior to April 13, 2012. The Board has remanded the case for extraschedular consideration due to the Veteran's inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus II is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection to bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as due to DM II, is remanded.

Your appeals regarding your disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with these matters.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran required aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities prior to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type 2 due to herbicide agent exposure. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposures at Camp Casey in Korea and Fort Drum, and obtain an expert opinion regarding residual toxicity exposure.

The Veteran's Type 2 diabetes mellitus disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The claim for SMC based on housebound criteria was also denied.

The claim for service connection for glaucoma is denied. The claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer is remanded.

Service connection for RA and DM is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for PN related to DM is also granted. PTSD is rated at the current level of disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes and peripheral neuropathy of both the left upper and lower extremities due to ambiguity in the evidence regarding the Veteran's diagnosis and treatment history. The AOJ is instructed to consider these issues on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 with visual complications, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand and is presumed to have been exposed. The Veteran's statements regarding his exposure near the perimeter of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB are considered credible.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma, is rated at 90 percent after August 6, 2014. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date has been denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II, right lung pulmonary fibrosis, restrictive lung diseases, skin cancer of the entire body, enlarged prostate with elevated PSAs, and heart condition. The reasons given were that there was no credible evidence showing herbicide exposure or a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and a lung condition due to herbicide agent exposure. Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was granted, but the underlying claim of entitlement to service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for diabetes was denied.