Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's lung cancer, ASHD and diabetes mellitus did not have a direct relationship to his service-connected right shoulder shell fragment wound. The medical evidence did not support a connection between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service and therefore denied. His erectile dysfunction and anxiety disorder are also not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, type II, CIDP of the upper extremities, kidney disorder, sexual dysfunction, bilateral foot disorder, heart condition, and hypertension, as they are not related to herbicide exposure during active service.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for a separate compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of currently diagnosed peripheral neuropathy, and the Veteran's diabetic retinopathy did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraines, Merkel cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, diabetes mellitus type II, cardiovascular renal disease, myasthenia gravis, Paget's disease, an eye condition, and hypertension have been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty in Vietnam. The claim for kidney stones has also been granted as the Veteran was present in Vietnam and had a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for a heart murmur and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not linked to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded due to the need for a new examination and additional treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and left foot amputation are not service connected as they were not shown during or within one year after service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and a thyroid disability were denied. The Board found no direct or presumptive service connection based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's diabetes is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides during his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for diabetes on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected and his diabetes mellitus does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that both conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's hepatitis C with cirrhosis.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability, including his VA-compensated cognitive disorder. The Board concluded there is no evidence of a connection between the cause of death and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a heart condition, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other conditions that would warrant service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding his eye disability and its relationship to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for non-service connected pension prior to March 2011 was denied as he did not meet the criteria of 'permanently and totally disabled' due to his disabilities. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of permanent total disability, particularly given the Veteran's age and employment status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims can be decided, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination for carpal tunnel syndrome.