Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes of the right ear and does not have diabetes. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to exposure to Agent Orange was denied as there is no competent and credible evidence establishing that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus may be related to an in-service metabolic syndrome, but the current claim is intertwined with his metabolic syndrome claim. The Board lacks jurisdiction over the metabolic syndrome claim and remands for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection for COPD, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, diabetes mellitus, or head injury. The Veteran is entitled to increased evaluations for focal pain syndrome with severe migraine headaches and post-traumatic scar of the left forehead.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not have onset during active service, was not caused by an event, injury, or disease in active service and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cysts is denied as there is no evidence that his current condition is related to his active service. His diabetes, which he contends causes his renal cysts, has already been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and vision loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining post-service medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer are being remanded due to the need for further development, including verifying his service in Vietnam and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board denied service connection for chronic low back pain, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, and benign hypertrophy of the prostate. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes was reopened and granted due to exposure to herbicides during his service at Korat Air Force Base, Thailand. The Veteran is also presumed to have been exposed to PTSD based on his military duties.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and compensable evaluations for his shell fragment wounds have been denied as there is no current evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for these conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II. The RO/AMC is instructed to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the likely etiology of his diabetes and whether it is related to in-service radiation exposure. Additionally, VCAA notice must be provided regarding ionizing radiation claims.

The Board has remanded the claims due to an incomplete record and a need for additional development, including locating the Veteran's service treatment records (STRs) and any enclosures submitted in July 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, fibromyalgia, depression, arthritis of the shoulders, hands, and hips, memory loss (small vessel brain disease), headaches, macular degeneration, dry eyes, and flat feet have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service or manifest within one year of separation.

The Veteran's petition to reopen previously denied claims for service connection and a TDIU was timely filed, resulting in the grant of these issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension, secondary to diabetes. Service connection is granted for these conditions due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and development of his TDIU claim. The Board will review the case again after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and nonservice-connected pension benefits are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure in Korea and updated income information.

The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not make him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.