Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his diabetes mellitus, a contributing cause to his death, is presumed related to his exposure to toxic herbicides while stationed in the Republic of Vietnam. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes was not incurred during service and is unrelated to service. The claim for service connection for diabetes must be denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his bilateral glaucoma with diabetic retinopathy is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need to consider both sets of rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, grand mal seizures, headaches, dizziness, and bilateral hearing loss were all denied as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension and coronary artery disease, benign prostatic hypertrophy, colon condition, rheumatism, left hand arthritis, right hand arthritis, and kidney condition. The appeals were decided on a direct basis without any presumption of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred in service and denied his claim, concluding that there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides or any other connection between his active duty service and his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing and issuance of a Statement of the Case on issues regarding timely substantive appeals filed with regard to January 2008 rating decisions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions are also being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and posttraumatic stress disorder. The VA examiner opined that there were no specific factors suggesting these conditions caused or worsened the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left hip conditions, as well as his diabetes mellitus, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The preexisting conditions were determined to be non-service connected.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right shoulder disability, including whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass surgery.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected Type II Diabetes Mellitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus are not related to his military service, as there is no credible evidence of actual exposure to Agent Orange.,VA has also found that the Veteran did not have Vietnam service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus Type II was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred as a result of herbicide exposure. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining relevant treatment records and ensuring all applicable laws and regulations are considered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and its associated peripheral neuropathy is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and Thailand.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeal for entitlement to service connection for hypertension, which was dismissed due to his request.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease. The Veteran's conditions are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure or any other service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for seizures, an acquired psychiatric disability including schizophrenia, and diabetes mellitus. The decision is final as it was a denial on the merits.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment, and thus DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.