Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetic retinopathy and macular scar was denied as there is no evidence of constricted fields or visual acuity that would warrant a rating in excess of the current evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to determine whether diabetes mellitus is related to service or any in-service disease, event, or injury. The claim will be reviewed again after this additional development.

The Board has restored service connection for diabetes mellitus, residuals of prostate cancer, and coronary artery disease due to presumed exposure to herbicides while serving in Thailand.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and diabetes mellitus, type II as there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left upper extremity neurological condition, which is proximately due to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The claim for type II diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction was denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was pneumonia due to metastatic pancreatic carcinoma. The Board found that the service-connected dysthymia substantially contributed to his fall and subdural hematoma, which ultimately led to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except GERD and bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, as his audiometric results do not meet VA criteria for such a disability. For GERD, the Veteran was provided with an opportunity for a VA examination but no opinion could be rendered without resorting to speculation.

The Board denied reopening the claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for Parkinson's disease was also denied as there is no service connection based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents, and the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam or any qualifying service.

The Veteran died from cardiac arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy, with diabetes being a contributing factor. The Board is unable to determine if the service-connected conditions were the principal cause of death or merely contributed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is service-connected due to presumed exposure in Vietnam. The hypertension issue remains pending as an addendum opinion is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied as there was no evidence of chronic symptoms in service or continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran served in the United States, not Vietnam, and there is no indication of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service at Takhli RTAFB. His erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataracts are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, while ischemic heart disease and hypertension are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are all granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicides during her active military service.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and heart disability, finding no evidence of in-service onset or a link to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lumbar radiculopathy is proximately due to his service-connected low back strain and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in service and grants service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to this exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during active duty and no in-service disease or injury. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is found to be etiologically related to his herbicide exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The claim for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic retinopathy, as well as a TDIU claim prior to October 11, 2013, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.