Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a skin disorder, and hypertension. The Veteran's assertions of secondary service connection have not been supported by sufficient medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bronchial asthma and bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia and bone spurs, but remanded the case to the RO/AMC for readjudication consistent with a Joint Motion for Remand.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is proximately due to, the result of, or chronically aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and requests for additional medical records, including VA treatment records from 1978 onwards. The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis and diabetes are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, which was linked to his in-service herbicide exposure, contributed substantially or materially to his death from pancreatic cancer. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus (due to herbicide exposure), and right foot injury claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, including his duties as a postal clerk on the USS Roosevelt. The Veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus based on presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, any service-connected condition. The Board found no evidence that the cause of his death was due to VA medical care.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including an examination to assess his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation given his service-connected disabilities. The peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities and diabetes mellitus type 2 matters are not in appellate status.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board also granted service connection for hypertension as a result of the presumptive Agent Orange exposure, but denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, which is presumed due to herbicide exposure, has been remanded due to the need to verify his service in the DMZ during the time when herbicides were used.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, peptic ulcer disease with gastric obstruction post-surgery, and diabetic nephropathy are all service-connected. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions but the ratings assigned remain noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, prostate disorder, diabetes, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and stroke have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational background, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the hands, feet, and knees, back disorder, eye disorder, diabetes mellitus, and hemolytic anemia are not supported by the evidence. The RO previously denied these claims multiple times without reopening them due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran did not have in-country Vietnam service or evidence of exposure to herbicides. The claim for PTSD was also denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence for claimed stressors.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus did not have their onset during service or within a presumptive period, and thus denied service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type 2 have been denied. The claim for a higher evaluation for residuals of a flash burn injury remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating under the applicable schedular criteria.