Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder or heart condition. The claim for neuropathy is denied as well.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of her type II diabetes.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension and renal failure (secondary to diabetes mellitus), diabetic retinopathy (secondary to diabetes mellitus), PTSD, increased rating for intervertebral disc syndrome of the right lower extremity, and compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II should be remanded due to technical issues with his September 2014 hearing transcript. The case will be returned to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the earliest available opportunity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion and additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were generally granted, with the exception of his claim for secondary service connection. The initial compensable ratings for residuals of Fournier gangrene to the perineum, right foot disability, and diabetes mellitus are upheld, while a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the condition did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus and pain and weakness in both feet, as well as service connection for a left leg injury and reopening of his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims due to additional development and the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing at the Waco VARO.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied, with the exception of PTSD which was granted and assigned a 30% disability rating.

The Veteran seeks service connection for glaucoma that he claims is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarifying opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's glaucoma and whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, service connection for hypertension, eczema, and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and related peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, prostate cancer, urinary incontinence, and erectile dysfunction are all presumed to be due to his exposure to herbicides during service at U-Tapao Airbase in Thailand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in service, and therefore his diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer are presumed to be related to this exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to conduct further development of his claims, including obtaining SSA benefits determination and any necessary examinations or opinions.

The Board is requesting a medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's cause of death was related to active service or a service-connected disability, specifically whether any service-connected condition aggravated the pneumonia that caused his death.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims for increased ratings for gynecomastia, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss.