Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim of service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic back disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus secondary to PTB is reopened. However, the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active military service or any incident thereof.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and left foot fracture claims are being remanded for further development as the evidence is insufficient to decide these cases.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity atherosclerotic vascular disease with claudication and diabetic peripheral neuropathy were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate duty to assist and VCAA notice issues. The appellant's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II is being returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and associated diabetic complications are granted as presumptively incurred due to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein. Hypertension was neither caused nor aggravated by a service-connected disability, to include diabetes mellitus, Type 2.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and thus could not establish presumptive exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicides, and there is insufficient medical evidence linking the Veteran's current diagnoses to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides or other chemicals during service, and whether his current conditions are related to such exposure.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, including whether it was aggravated by his 1991 service or related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records from Emporia and any private medical records, as well as his Social Security Administration disability records. The Veteran will also be provided with new VA examinations for his hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, claimed as due to exposure to herbicide agents. However, the evidence does not establish that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service aboard the USS Hornet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, diagnosed in February 1993 and presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam, is entitled to service connection for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and separate ratings of 10 percent each for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's discharge from military service was under other than honorable conditions, which affects his eligibility for certain presumptive disabilities. The RO is instructed to seek clarification and verification of the nature of the Veteran's discharge from the service department.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the appellant is the Veteran's surviving spouse and whether his service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to cause death. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records, SSA records, and treatment records. The VA will also schedule a VA examination to determine if there is any relationship between post-service hypertension and in-service findings.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic spindle cell carcinoma, with diabetes mellitus listed as a significant condition contributing to his death. The Board finds that the cause of death is at least in equipoise with other evidence and grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as a result of Agent Orange exposure, finding no evidence of in-service exposure and no medical nexus between the condition and service.