Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for heart disability and diabetes, both presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure, due to lack of evidence showing the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating reductions for the Veteran's disabilities. The propriety of the reductions in evaluations for neck disability and bilateral hearing loss is under consideration, as are other claims including those for BPH, erectile dysfunction, gout, pre-diabetes mellitus, eye disability, left ventricular hypertrophy, back pain, tongue growth removal, creatinine kinase elevation, and accessory muscle of the neck.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including obesity and secondary disabilities like depression, migraine headaches, diabetes mellitus, type II, and others, are not granted as the evidence does not support a finding of entitlement to these claims.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to cardiac arrest, with type II diabetes mellitus contributing significantly. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service and presumed his diabetes was a condition of service origin, granting service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam is not established, and his pancreatic cancer, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes mellitus are not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition. The Board denied both the claims for service connection and dependency and indemnity compensation.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder derangement, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus type II due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's right shoulder derangement was not caused by service as there were no complaints or findings of the condition during service. Prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II were also not linked to service because the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam.,The Board found that the Veteran's military duties, including his role as an electronic computer systems repairman, did not place him near the air base perimeter where Agent Orange exposure could have occurred.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim for service connection for skin cancer is granted. The RO previously denied the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, prostate condition, urinary dysfunction, and glucose intolerance condition (to include diabetes mellitus, type II). These issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence of an in-service event or relationship.

The Veteran's appeals regarding his erectile dysfunction and type 2 diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The right elbow osteochondritis dissecans and acne vulgaris of chest and back issues have been remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, finding no evidence of herbicide agent exposure in Thailand and insufficient evidence linking the condition to service.

The appeal seeking service connection for a left shoulder disability is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.,The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Type II Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypothyroidism due to potential in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's service records indicate he had service in Thailand but not Vietnam. Further verification is needed regarding his claimed service in Vietnam and any exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 with bilateral cataracts, post-operative, and erectile dysfunction is not rated higher than 20 percent. Service connection for diabetic retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy was denied due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The issues of service connection for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board has remanded both his increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus and his TDIU claim due to new evidence indicating worsening of his condition.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension was reopened and granted. The appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, IHD, DM, and PTSD remains pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral rotator cuff tear, bilateral torn plantar fascia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient development regarding his allegations of herbicide exposure in service, pesticide exposure during service, and secondary service-connected skin disability. The claims are also remanded for additional medical opinions on the nature and cause of his gastrointestinal and skin disabilities.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for diabetes because no new and material evidence was received within one year of the previous denial.