Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for cause of death.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus as they are not related to service, including presumed exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or near the Korean DMZ, and thus could not be presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. The Veteran's claimed conditions were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his attorney, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip disability, right leg disability (to include arthritis), left leg disability (to include arthritis), hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy affecting either upper extremity, arteriosclerotic heart disease, or kidney disorder. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and for increased ratings for generalized anxiety disorder. The decision also addressed issues related to effective dates for disability ratings.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes and a respiratory disability, to include allergic rhinitis, as the evidence did not establish exposure to herbicides or asbestos during service.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus is presumed to have been incurred during his service in Vietnam due to exposure to herbicides. Service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, depression, ED, sleep disorder, fatigue, and lightheadedness are also granted as secondary to the diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for PTSD, service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been granted. The earliest dates assignable for these conditions are based on the dates of receipt of his initial claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure and thus the presumption of exposure does not apply.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death from hepatic cancer due to, or as consequence of, diabetes mellitus and cirrhosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his diabetes has been aggravated by or permanently worsened by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral upper and lower peripheral neuropathy, cervical strain, and lumbosacral strain with arthropathy, necessitate the need for an automobile to accommodate his mobility limitations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural error in representation, and further development is needed before service connection can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have been incurred in service due to exposure to loud noise from combat.,The claim for type II diabetes mellitus was reopened as new and material evidence has been submitted, but the issue of service connection remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities associated with diabetes mellitus type II is denied as the majority of his symptoms are due to nonservice-connected conditions, specifically his peripheral vascular disease and chemotherapy from colon cancer.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred in service due to frequent shaving during active duty.,Corneal abrasion of the right eye does not meet criteria for service connection. No current disability related to this condition has been demonstrated.,Chronic left epididymitis, a residual of an in-service vasectomy, is not shown and no etiological link was found between the condition and service.,Right hand condition is not shown during or within one year of service and no current disability related to service-connected conditions has been demonstrated. No evidence supports a right hand condition being incurred in service.,Left foot sprain is not shown during or within one year of service and no current left foot disability, including bunions or plantar warts, has been demonstrated.,Diabetes mellitus was not shown during or within one year of service. No evidence supports a link between diabetes mellitus and service-connected hypertension.,Bunion of the left foot is not shown during or within one year of service and no current disability related to service-connected conditions has been demonstrated. No evidence supports a bunion condition being incurred in service.,Plantar warts of the left foot are not shown during or within one year of service and no current disability related to service-connected conditions has been demonstrated. No evidence supports plantar warts being incurred in service.,Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not shown during or within one year of service and no etiological link was found between the condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.