Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to exposure to Agent Orange during military service in the Republic of Vietnam. The claims for cataracts and impotence, as well as whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and basal cell carcinoma due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's bilateral diabetic macular edema was evaluated at a 30 percent rating prior to January 5, 2011 and at a 40 percent rating from that date forward. The Board found the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board found that the cause of death was not service-connected, as none of the listed conditions were shown to be related to military service or pre-service conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and it may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional information from the National Archives regarding his alleged exposure to chemical dioxins and potential service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the loss of use of his feet, warranting eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment.