Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus is granted as it meets the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicides during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records, particularly from his primary care providers.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension both began during his period of active duty service. As a result, the Board finds that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and shrapnel wound to scrotum with acute epididymitis, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment as of June 1, 2012. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU have been met.

The Veteran died from colon cancer, which was not service-connected or related to any of his service-connected conditions. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's dementia and diabetes mellitus have been granted service connection. The TDIU claim is deferred pending the implementation of the award for dementia.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not shown to cause or aggravate his hypertension, nor did it cause or aggravate his peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to any decision being made.

The Veteran's appeals on bone disease, diabetes mellitus, and forehead laceration were withdrawn prior to the promulgation of a decision. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was granted as secondary to TBI.

The Veteran's hypertension was not caused by service, diabetes, or within one year of service separation. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examinations and medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the diagnosis and need for an additional VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination for the right knee disorder, and considering the Veteran's claims again.

The Veteran's ED is secondary to his service-connected diabetes. However, the Board finds that he does not have a diagnosis of congestive heart failure and his currently diagnosed aortic stenosis was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.,The Veteran's kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism, and polyneuropathy are all secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's death to his service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are not related to his active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death and non-service-connected death pension benefits due to a lack of evidence regarding financial eligibility.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding exposure to insecticides and herbicide agents. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease with aortic stenosis are being evaluated for potential connection to alleged exposure to insecticides.

The claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened, but the secondary service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is denied as there is no service-connected disability. The service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (reopened) is also denied.