Diabetes decisions — 2017

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chloracne, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, hypertension, and an eye disability due to lack of evidence showing a current diagnosis or link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have confirmed exposure to herbicide agents or hazardous jet fuel during service, and thus denied his claims for service connection based on direct evidence of a link between his current disabilities and active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to toxins at El Toro Marine Corp Air Station.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, residuals of a stroke, and residuals of prostate cancer did not have their onset in active service or are otherwise related to service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his peripheral neuropathies and knee disabilities, did not render him unemployable for the period from March 6, 2013 to the present.

The Veteran's death pension and accrued benefits claims are dismissed as the appellant did not have a pending claim at the time of his death, nor was he entitled to any unpaid benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have peripheral vascular disease and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or were caused by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss, as well as his claims for service connection for various conditions. The Veteran was granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar disc disease and radiculopathy of the lower left extremity, effective June 12, 2009. The Veteran's claim was reopened due to new evidence received since the February 2003 rating decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including TDIU, increased ratings for gunshot wound and shell fragments disabilities, and an initial rating for diabetes mellitus. The Board is dismissing these claims.

The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The other issues were either not addressed or are pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and chronic fatigue syndrome were denied. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Thailand, but did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board has ordered additional development and remanded the case for readjudication of all issues on appeal, including service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran is also scheduled for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in active service. The claims for liver failure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are also remanded for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death (coronary artery disease) was not related to his military service, and concluded that none of his service-connected conditions or any other condition related to his military service contributed substantially or materially to his death. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to July 2, 2009. The Board found that the evidence does not support his contention of inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability, including carotid artery disease, did not have its onset during service and was not caused by his active service. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is addressed in a separate decision.

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, as his diabetes mellitus type II with retinopathy and cataracts, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, tinnitus, and upper extremity neuropathies have rendered him unfit for physically demanding jobs.