Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents at Fort Gordon and to obtain an opinion regarding whether his heart condition constitutes ischemic heart disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, left foot neuropathy, and right foot neuropathy due to the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran served near the DMZ where he was exposed to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of herbicide exposure at Fort Bliss and a need for an etiology opinion regarding the onset and relationship of diabetes mellitus, type 2, to service.

The Veteran's claim for additional special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for a higher level of care at the rate specified under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (r)(1) or (r)(2) was denied because he did not meet the criteria for SMC at any of the rates provided, including those for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to deficiencies in a previous VA opinion. The Veteran's service records show exposure to DDT powder in 1948, but no human health effects from low environmental doses are known.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of both arms and legs, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The appeal for service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the claims for diabetes and CAD due to a lack of in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to multiple conditions, none of which are service-connected. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service in Korea and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's vertigo, diagnosed as BPPV, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service. The Board affirms the denial of service connection for vertigo.,Service connection for hypothyroidism status post thyroidectomy is denied because it was due to an intercurrent cause (the thyroidectomy). Service connection for a cervical spine disorder and erectile dysfunction are remanded as they may be related to service-connected disabilities. The umbilical hernia claim is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no medical evidence to support a link between his military service and his current condition. The Board concluded that obesity was not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding his exposure to hazardous materials at Fort McClellan.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. His bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, diabetes mellitus at 20 percent, right and left knee degenerative joint disease each at 10 percent, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease at 10 percent, and erectile dysfunction did not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes with peripheral neuropathy of all extremities, rendered him unable to follow substantially gainful employment from March 29, 2012 to June 19, 2013. Prior to that date, he did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, loss of use of the left leg, and loss of use of the right leg due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is also being asked to provide a VA examination to determine the current severity of his asthma.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, diabetes mellitus, and residuals of gonorrhea have been denied. The claim for recurrent gastritis has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of right upper extremity. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure as there was no current diagnosis and the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran had diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of one or both feet, which is a requirement for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment. The Board denied the claim as the evidence does not support actual loss of use.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection was dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.