Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type 2 is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty, and thus is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents. As a result, he meets the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's death was caused by adenocarcinoma, but the exact cause is unknown. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service. Her claim will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of a disease manifesting within one year after separation from service or any medical relationship between the condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, which he alleges is due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, was denied as there is no credible evidence of his having served in Vietnam or any other location where he could have been exposed to Agent Orange. The medical evidence does not support a link between the current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus contributed substantially or materially to his death from arteriosclerotic heart disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cognitive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing their onset during active duty or being related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and diabetes mellitus due to exposure in Vietnam, but hearing loss was not shown during service or at any time thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pension Maintenance Center for additional development of relevant documents and records. The issue of entitlement to a waiver of recovery of overpayment of VA benefits in the amount of $3461.83 will be readjudicated following receipt of these documents.

The Veteran's death was caused by aspiration pneumonia, which was related to Alzheimer's disease. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and dismissed the DIC benefits claim as moot.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and correctly decide the Veteran's claims, including service connection for PTSD. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. The initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are under review.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are found to be related to his service exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA), as well as to obtain a VA examination for his diabetes mellitus. The issues are whether he is entitled to service connection for diabetes mellitus and myocardial infarction.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities due to lack of evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease is granted as the condition falls under the recently amended regulation establishing presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy due to new and material evidence submitted since the August 2002 rating decision. The claim is granted as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma and cataracts, high cholesterol, and hypertension. The remaining issues of service connection for asbestosis, COPD, spurring of cervical and lumbar spine (back disorder), sleep apnea, tonsil disorder, bilateral knee arthritis with total knee replacement, right foot Achilles tendon (right foot disorder), and left foot disorder are addressed below.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of his lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.