Diabetes decisions — 2004

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type 1 as a result of exposure to herbicides and neuropathy of the feet and spine and degenerative arthritis of the entire spine.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, which is presumed to be service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, contributed substantially or materially to his death from pancreatic cancer. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's claims for disability benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus, hiatal hernia, and dysphagia resulting from VA surgical treatment on April 10, 1975 were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to lack of verification of exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's service-connected PTSD to his cause of death, asphyxia due to freshwater drowning. The Board denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, gum disease as residuals of in-service exposure to ionizing radiation, and arthritis of the lumbar spine as residuals of in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for sexual dysfunction due to VA surgery performed in August 1987 was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and an eye condition as secondary to diabetes due to a lack of current medical diagnosis and no causal nexus between the conditions and service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, associated with herbicide exposure is May 2, 2001.

The Board has granted service connection for a hiatal hernia and remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for service connection of a kidney condition was also denied, with no indication that the condition is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran's current diabetes mellitus disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of organic heart disability, hypertensive vascular disease, and diabetes mellitus. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for an organic heart disability, and concluded that both hypertension and diabetes mellitus were not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes associated with herbicide exposure was denied as the law does not allow for such a grant based on the evidence presented.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding no evidence of a nexus to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for arthritis, a skin disorder (claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and PTSD due to new evidence submitted by the appellant. The diabetes mellitus issue remains under review.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining a unit history and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection for PTSD and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus are pending.

The veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus and related conditions, claiming exposure to herbicides during his temporary duty assignment in Vietnam. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the alleged TAD in Vietnam.

The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he claims was caused by his exposure to Agent Orange during military service. The Board has ordered the RO to obtain all relevant records and information from VA and the Armed Services Center for Research of Unit Records (USASCRUR) to determine if the veteran was exposed to herbicides or other toxins while stationed at an Air Force Base in Guam.