Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic cancer, which is not presumed to be related to service exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's diabetes or coronary artery disease contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II on a presumptive basis due to exposure to Agent Orange during the Veteran's active duty in Korea.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for an enlarged heart as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision. The claim of reopening service connection for hypertension (as secondary to PTSD) is granted, and the matter may be remanded for further development. Service connection for diabetes mellitus remains denied.

The Veteran's diabetes is not service connected as it was not incurred or aggravated during his military service. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA compensation examination to provide a supplemental medical nexus opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected Type II Diabetes Mellitus caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner or scheduling a new examination if necessary. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are being evaluated in relation to his service-connected esophageal reflux with IBS and diarrhea.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in determining the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and failure to make reasonable efforts to obtain all relevant records pertaining to his service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, is also denied.

The Veteran's peripheral edema due to venous insufficiency and diabetic nephropathy are found to be caused by or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claim as there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides in Korea.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his service-connected disabilities and whether he meets the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance, acquiring specially adapted housing, or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining deck logs and private treatment records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy are pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and heart condition were not incurred in or aggravated by service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain, bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis. The Veteran was granted service connection for depression, Type II diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, osteoarthritis of the left knee and right knee, but his initial ratings were assigned at 10%, 20%, 0% and 0% respectively.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a heart disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a possible link to service. Service connection was denied for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure as there is no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, diabetes mellitus and neurogenic bladder, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, as the submitted evidence is cumulative or redundant.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, left foot pes planus with plantar callus, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted. The Veteran had preexisting left foot pes planus that was aggravated by service, and his current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete information and records, including a need for clarification on exposure to toxins while in Germany, obtaining SSA records, and updating VA treatment records.