Diabetes decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as due to herbicidal exposure, is denied because there is no evidence of physical presence within the land borders of Vietnam during his military service. The Board finds that he may not be presumed to have been exposed to herbicides and thus cannot establish a nexus between his current disability and service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further action regarding PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA examination to determine if the appellant's coronary artery disease is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer are service-connected due to exposure to herbicides during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran's conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated conditions such as diabetic cataracts, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease, are not related to his active duty service. The evidence did not support a presumption of exposure to herbicides or any other specific exposure basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, a skin disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and procedural deficiencies, including a need for a VA examination and proper VCAA notice regarding effective dates.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to the issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of gonorrhea, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), diabetes mellitus and urinary tract infection.

The Veteran's claims of diabetes mellitus, type II; cervical spine disorder; and left shoulder disorder were all denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claims for cervical spine disorder and left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination if needed. The claim will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, and right shoulder arthritis, have rendered him unemployable due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not shown to be related to service, and the presumption of service connection for herbicide exposure does not apply.,Chronic headaches were not shown to have been present during service or are otherwise related to service. The Veteran has no current diagnosis of chronic headaches.,Lumbosacral disorder, including degenerative disc disease (DDD) and arthritis, was not shown to be related to service. The Veteran's low back pain started during service but the condition did not manifest within one year post-service.

The Board has reconsidered the Veteran's claims and found that new service personnel records received since the January 1998 rating decision are relevant to his diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease claims. As a result, these claims have been reopened.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and addressing a proposed reduction of the Veteran's coronary artery disease disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 100% effective April 27, 2004. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred more than one year prior to the claim and thus the effective date is set as of the date of the increase.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diverticulitis, diabetes mellitus, prostatitis, and gout have all been denied as these conditions were not shown to be related to his service-connected glomerulonephritis with hypertension.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA eye and aid and attendance/housebound examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and because adjudication of his diabetes mellitus claim may impact the adjudication of his peripheral neuropathy claim. Additionally, a VA medical examination is needed for his hepatitis C disability.