Diabetes decisions — 2016

The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides, mustard gas or Lewisite and thus denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, including hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's hypertension and prostate cancer are presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, as he served on a ship that operated in the inland waterways of Vietnam. His diabetes mellitus type II is also presumed due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for hypertension, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus type II have been granted based on the presumption of exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete and conclusory findings in the VA examinations, requiring further development including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the December 2009 denial is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed substantially and materially to his death, which was caused by hemorrhagic shock. The decision grants DIC benefits based on this finding.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure during service at the Takhli RTAFB.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and type II diabetes mellitus, contributed substantially or materially to his death from intracerebral hemorrhage. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's diabetes did not have onset prior to May 8, 2001 and thus he was not eligible for compensation at that time. The claim was received on August 11, 2008.

The Board has found that the Veteran had service in Vietnam and was diagnosed with type II diabetes mellitus, which is a disease listed under presumptive service connection for herbicide exposure. Therefore, the appeal is granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to pancreatic adenocarcinoma, with diabetes as a significant contributing condition. The Appellant did not file a claim for DIC until April 2006, which is after the Veteran's death. Therefore, an earlier effective date cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psoriasis and diabetes mellitus are related to his in-service bug bites and insect stings, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, coccyx fracture residuals, metabolic acidosis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and right foot disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board has ordered a remand for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for CLL and Diabetes Mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right lower extremity disorder, diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied as his diabetes, which is already being compensated at a higher level due to loss of use of both feet, cannot serve as the basis for entitlement to SMC on account of the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has been rated at 20 percent, and his cataracts have not warranted a separate rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support higher ratings for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for additional examinations and development. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as due to exposure to an herbicidal agent, have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure and denied service connection for tinnitus as it did not manifest during service or within the presumptive period.