Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, both claimed as due to in-service herbicide exposure, were denied. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and that symptoms of peripheral neuropathy did not manifest until many years after service separation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, and there are no unusual or exceptional disability factors warranting referral of the Veteran's claim for TDIU for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Appellant's herbicide exposure at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The claim will be reconsidered based on this additional information.

The Veteran's esophageal dysmotility and stricture were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board finds that there is no indication of a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes is found to have caused his current bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The appeal for upper extremities' neurological disabilities will be remanded as the July 2013 VA examination did not adequately assess these issues.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is being remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous examination and additional medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen tuberculosis or psychiatric disability claims. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim was also denied as there is no competent credible evidence of its onset in service or due to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is not related to service, as there was no exposure to herbicides or other Agent Orange-related substances during his service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus and a heart disorder, both potentially related to his military service. The Board has ordered additional development of the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus contributed to his death from hepatic encephalopathy due to liver cirrhosis and chronic alcohol abuse. The medical opinions are in equipoise, with one stating no causal effect and another indicating a contributory cause.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, claiming it was caused by in-service herbicide exposure. The case has been remanded to obtain further information from the U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) regarding his claimed Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus is found to be the proximate cause of his diabetic peripheral neuropathy affecting all four extremities, and this decision grants service connection for both upper and lower extremity conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to any service-connected disability. The Board finds that the current evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for psychiatric disability, including PTSD; residuals of dental surgery; hypertension; and diabetes. The appeals were based on direct evidence rather than presumptions or secondary theories.

The Veteran met the minimum criteria for schedular TDIU and was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, claimed as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, has been reopened and is now considered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, Crohn's disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, and right knee disability. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for new VA examinations to assess his service-connected PTSD, diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and facial lesion disabilities.

The Board has ordered additional records and an opinion to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus aggravated his periodontitis, which is a condition that can be service-connected under certain circumstances.

The Board has ordered the VA to verify if the Veteran's service aboard USS Guadalupe exposed him to herbicides, which could potentially grant service connection for his death. The case is now remanded for further action.