Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic pancreatic cancer, is not service-connected as it did not result from any condition or injury incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from a VA psychiatrist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's depression and erectile dysfunction.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, chronic prostatitis, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his National Guard service and exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and has determined that diabetes mellitus, a service-connected condition, contributed to his death. The appeal is now substantiated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in wartime service and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for Type II diabetes mellitus with cataracts was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding no credible evidence of exposure to herbicides or participation in Project 112/SHAD. The Veteran's claims were also not supported by competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus should be remanded due to a lack of in-service complaints or treatment, and because VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current disability. The AOJ also needs to attempt to obtain updated VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus is presumed to be caused by his exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange, during service in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to herbicide exposure as there was no evidence of in-service exposure and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and high cholesterol were not found to be service-connected. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a finding of herbicide exposure or any other basis for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus, and lumbar spine disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including type II diabetes mellitus and its complications, have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides. The claimed conditions are not related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's vascular disease and whether it is aggravated by any service-connected disabilities, specifically diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Board also granted a TDIU as of May 15, 2014.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, diagnosed in 1995 or 1996 prior to his diabetes mellitus onset, is considered secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.