Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for diabetes mellitus, Type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran did not have any pending claims for accrued benefits at the time of his death, and therefore no accrued benefits were awarded to his surviving spouse.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus with nephropathy, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's widow is seeking service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, liver disease (including hepatitis C), diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension. The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and seek a medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents while serving in Thailand, and his diagnosed ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus are presumed related to such exposure.,Diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and nephropathy were not found to be presumptively related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board grants TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not required regulation of activities.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, and there is no evidence to support service connection for this condition. The preponderance of the evidence supports denial.

The Veteran's above the knee right leg amputation is not related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's below the knee left leg amputation is not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is not related to service, and specifically denied service connection on a direct basis due to lack of evidence showing an in-service event or disease. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during his active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip disability, liver condition, and diabetes mellitus. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during active service or within one year post-service, and thus could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. Additionally, the Board determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for secondary service connection as his current conditions were not caused by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, specifically noise exposure during training. The Veteran's current COPD is presumed due to asbestos exposure in service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not linked to herbicide exposure in service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to be the primary cause of his skin conditions, including neuropathic wounds and ulcers on both feet. The Board finds that these conditions are not related to service or any other presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a cervical spine disorder, to include DISH, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a chest condition, diabetic retinopathy, and gastrointestinal disability (claimed as gastroenteritis), were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise regarding peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as a result of diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction caused or aggravated by diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and right foot Charcot arthropathy were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative events. The Board found that the current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, but denied the underlying claim due to lack of in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, a skin condition (chloracne), hyperlipidemia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The decision was based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and personnel records. The VA audiological opinion will be obtained based on noise exposure as a driver in a Motor Transportation unit.