Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Veteran's prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus Type II, and anemia are presumed to have been incurred as a result of active duty service due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease, including as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the inadequacy of an examination report, and the case is returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. However, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not necessitate regulation of activities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding his diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, as well as a TDIU issue. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations and issuance of a Statement of the Case on increased rating claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease with osteophytes is dismissed because he is already compensated for the symptoms and manifestations of his current cervical spine disorder. Therefore, a separate award for this condition would be duplicative.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure of the RO to issue a Statement of the Case on the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2. The remaining claims are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by renal cell carcinoma, which is more likely than not due to asbestos and TCE exposure during military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not attributable to nicotine dependence or service connection, and denied the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service, specifically depression. As such, the claim for service connection for depression is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for DM with ED, peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is presumed related to service. The Veteran does not have a current perirectal disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 3, 2006, for the grant of service connection for diabetes type II. The Veteran did not file a formal claim prior to this date and there is no evidence indicating that he sought benefits within one year after separation from active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension and determined that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The issue of whether diabetes mellitus is secondary to chronic pancreatitis was also addressed, but no decision was made as it fell outside the scope of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records from the Elgin, Illinois VA outpatient clinic. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling updated VA examinations.

The Veteran claims service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he asserts is due to exposure to herbicides during his military service. The Board finds that further verification of the Veteran's in-country service and potential exposure to herbicides is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information provided by VA in its request for verification of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's service records and a search with JSRRC are required.