Diabetes decisions — 2011

The VA denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between the condition and the Veteran's military service or any incident thereof, including claimed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board found no evidence of the Veteran's service in Vietnam and thus denied his claims for service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service and whether his diabetes mellitus is related to such exposure.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, including as due to exposure to tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene in service. The Board has ordered additional attempts to obtain clinical records from Dr. B.T. and VA treatment records since March 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for neurological complications as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus was granted. However, his claims for increased rating and other secondary service connection issues remain denied.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not include new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a comprehensive VA examination to determine the current state of his diabetes mellitus, as the most recent medical evidence is from nearly four years ago.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective July 11, 2007, based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that it was factually ascertainable as of this date that he could not obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment due to these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of service origin for the Veteran's claimed conditions and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining deck logs from the USS Newport News to determine if the Veteran set foot in Vietnam and potentially establish exposure to Agent Orange. The claim will be readjudicated after this information is obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by bilateral foot swelling for which service connection may be granted. The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, and there is no evidence of symptoms warranting a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD effective December 15, 2006 was withdrawn. The Veteran also withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending and will be remanded to the RO for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, was denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the condition is not otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his claimed herbicide exposure during military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, claimed as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's diabetes, which was service-connected for accrued benefits purposes, significantly contributed to his death from anoxic encephalopathy due to or as a consequence of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and no competent medical opinion linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes is now granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The secondary service connection for hypertension remains unresolved.