Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and PTSD were granted service connection based on presumptive exposure to herbicides. The effective dates for these grants are September 13, 2010, and May 10, 2006 respectively.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to herbicide exposure is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, type II, and this condition manifested after separation from service with sufficient severity to warrant a 10% disability rating under VA criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the nature and severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and right carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as whether these conditions are related or aggravated by each other.

The Veteran's right eye diabetic retinopathy was manifested by objective findings of corrected distance vision of 20/50 or better since February 6, 2012. Prior to this date, the disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus, type I, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his left index finger disability.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection, a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, and TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain additional records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes and coronary artery disease, which he claims are secondary to medications prescribed for his service-connected schizophrenia. The Board has determined that additional medical examination and opinion are necessary in this case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coccidioidomycosis, diabetes mellitus type II, and various other conditions as secondary to coccidioidomycosis. The decision also noted that no new evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for coccidioidomycosis.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted it. The other issues on appeal are pending further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicides during service, specifically Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from February 7, 2008 to April 16, 2008 due to his service-connected disabilities including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The Board found that he is unemployable as a result of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn, and the issue is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused by or related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and concluded that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is not related to his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from Philadelphia for the period between 1968 to 1998 and searching for archived and retired VA records related to both her married and maiden names. The case will be remanded for further review after any new evidence is obtained.

The VA examiners determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected major depression, and therefore denied the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, endocarditis, diabetes mellitus, residuals of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA or stroke), and a vascular disability as there is no competent evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.