Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to be service-connected due to presumed herbicide exposure during his service in the brown waters of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating higher than 20 percent for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's current hearing loss is not considered to be related to his active service, and there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diabetes and service.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and concluded that diabetes mellitus is not related to service, thus denying the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his active duty service and the development or aggravation of his preexisting diabetes.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to presumed herbicide exposure. The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that additional development is needed as the current VA examination report does not contain sufficient detail.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), was not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated by his military service. The Board also noted that he had other service-connected conditions such as diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides and no in-service or post-service diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other factors linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetic retinopathy was granted, and he is now rated at 30 percent for exertional headaches. The adjustment disorder remains rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA physician's opinion on whether service-connected disabilities contributed to the Veteran's death and whether DIC is warranted under certain provisions. The appellant must take no action unless notified otherwise.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 60 percent, the highest available rating. His peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities is also rated at 20 percent each.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and has granted this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and further clarification of his diabetes symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus and service connection for hyperosmolar coma as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's diabetes requires insulin, a restricted diet, and oral hypoglycemic agents but does not require regulation of activities. The Board found that the Veteran did not have episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization or visits to a diabetic care provider. As for hyperosmolar coma, there is no evidence showing it was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and initial ratings for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy, as well as his left wrist disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.