Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Veteran did not set foot in Vietnam or have actual exposure to herbicides during his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction and diabetes mellitus, both related to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, claimed as due to exposure to herbicides, is being remanded for additional development. The appeal will be returned to the RO via the AMC.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a hearing conducted by an undersigned Veterans Law Judge who did not fully explain the issues in the appeal and suggest necessary evidence. The Veteran is notified of what remains necessary for him to substantiate his claims, including exposure to herbicides in service.

The Veteran's death was caused by complications from his diabetes, which is presumed to be due to his Vietnam service. The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has received notification of the appellant's withdrawal of all remaining claims, including service connection for residuals of a spinal injury, cataracts, and hearing loss.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left leg and foot are not shown to be related to service or due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims must be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a higher rating for his right ankle disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a link between his diabetes and hypertension, and concluded that his right ankle disability did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated during active service, nor are they presumed to have been incurred therein. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, service connection for a skin rash of the legs and groin, service connection for a prostate disorder, and service connection for hypertension have been denied. The claim for total disability benefits for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty and could not be presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure. The Board also found no evidence of a link between the Veteran's diabetes and his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and COPD, finding no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type II. The issues of asthma and COPD are being remanded to the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records related to the Veteran's service in Vietnam and basketball tournaments. The claim will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on several issues.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosis of type II diabetes and it did not manifest within one year after service separation. There is also no evidence linking the condition to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and psoriasis were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining records from Carswell Air Force Base and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, render him unemployable due to his mental health conditions.