Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection claims, finding no CUE in the decisions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, presumed to be caused by Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam, is considered a significant condition contributing to his death from pancreatic cancer.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA vocational rehabilitation records and a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's employability prior to March 31, 2010.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at the highest possible rating under the applicable criteria, but his lumbar spine disorder does not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,His migraine headaches are currently rated as 30 percent disabling and do not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn his appeals for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for diabetic retinopathy. The claims are therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus has been dismissed as the Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's type 1 diabetes mellitus is proximately due to or caused by service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of diabetic neuropathy in the right and left upper extremities, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service connected due to exposure to Agent Orange during his active military service in Thailand.

The Board found that the Veteran's service from August 1968 to August 1974 was under dishonorable conditions, and thus his second period of service is a bar to VA benefits related to this period. The criteria for entitlement to service connection for glaucoma, CAD, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension or bilateral hearing loss are not met.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD was granted, and he is entitled to compensation based on exposure to environmental hazards during his service in the Persian Gulf War. The other issues were not addressed due to lack of information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and hypertension, as well as an increased rating for PTSD, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including verification of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, depression, and hypertensive retinopathy. The Veteran's other claims are either denied or not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between her current disabilities and her military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling effective July 6, 2010. The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam and denied the remaining issues on appeal.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and type II diabetes mellitus, both of which were determined to be not related to his exposure to herbicides.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current type II diabetes mellitus disability is not related to service, including asbestos exposure. The evidence does not show chronic symptoms of type II diabetes in service or within one year after separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and oropharyngeal cancer, both as due to Agent Orange exposure, were granted in a May 2015 rating decision. The matter of service connection for oropharyngeal cancer is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his hypertension and service-connected diabetes mellitus, as well as a possible advisory medical opinion on whether his current hypertension may be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and urinary incontinence are all service-connected. The Board has also determined that the Veteran's glaucoma is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.