Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the claims of hypertension and tinnitus.,For hypertension, a VA examination is needed to determine if it may be related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension. The examiner is asked to determine if there was clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions preexisted service and were not aggravated by active duty.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic liver disease and vitiligo, both secondary to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and nerve condition are remanded for further development.,Service connection is not granted for the claimed conditions as they do not meet the criteria under presumptive service connection provisions.

The Board denied service connection for chronic liver disease and vitiligo secondary to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, but remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and a nerve condition.,Diabetes mellitus type II and a nerve condition are also remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's application to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Her claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome were also denied. The effective date of the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus remains September 6, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during or related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to military service and if it is worsened by his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DM was granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Thailand. His hypertension and atlanto-occipital syndrome with headaches were also granted, though the specific rating assigned is not provided.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as the rating for degenerative arthritis in both knees. The Veteran's appeal is granted due to a timely notice of disagreement filed regarding these issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection and TDIU claims, leaving no issues remaining before the Board.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is denied as there was no in-service injury, event or disease that caused the condition and continuity of symptomatology has not been established.,The Veteran's sleep apnea does not warrant an initial rating in excess of 50 percent as he did not meet the criteria for chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or required tracheostomy.,The Veteran's hypertension is not compensable as there was no diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more noted in his medical records.

The Board denied service connection for left hip degenerative joint disorder, right hip degenerative joint disease, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected meningococcal meningitis.,Service connection was also denied for diabetes mellitus (DMII) as secondary to service-connected meningococcal meningitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service, including exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes, dizziness, gastrointestinal disability including irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headaches, erectile dysfunction, and allergic rhinitis. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of prostatitis and skin problems was remanded. The appeals for bilateral diabetic retinopathy, renal insufficiency with hypertension (due to diabetes mellitus), and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities were not resolved.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims.,Obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service and his diabetes is related to this exposure, granting service connection for diabetes on a presumptive basis.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for hiatal hernia, diabetes mellitus, and the left side of the body being smaller than the right side. The reasons given are insufficient explanations in the VA examination addenda.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, is restored to a 40 percent rating effective May 21, 2018. Initial ratings for the condition prior to September 27, 2002 are denied.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and diabetes mellitus type II as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service.