Diabetes decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's service connection and rating issues related to his left knee disabilities, diabetes mellitus, type II, and left shoulder disability are now pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, vision problems, residuals of a stroke, bilateral foot rash (tinea cruris), residuals of tumors (lipomas), loss of sense of smell, multiple joint and bone pain, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and right hand numbness due to radiation exposure. Additional VA opinions are needed regarding the etiology of lipomas and bilateral foot rash.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, hypogonadism, and residuals of a pituitary gland disorder due to inadequate examinations. The claims are related to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, hypogonadism, and residuals of a pituitary gland disorder due to inadequate examinations and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's conditions are presumed related to exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his brain cancer was not caused by or contributed to by exposure to herbicide agents (e.g., Agent Orange) during his active service. The Veteran had other service-connected conditions but they were deemed unlikely to have caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for sinusitis, sarcoidosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but denied. The right foot condition and bilateral hearing loss were remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection was not established for type II diabetes mellitus as it is not related to service.

The Veteran's cataracts are not related to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's current hypertension is not at least as likely as not caused by in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as secondary to his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a more detailed opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bronchitis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease as the Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is as likely as not related to his military service. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that a remand is required to verify the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicides while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. The AOJ will need to submit additional requests to the JSRRC to cover the Veteran’s time being stationed from March 1970 to June 1971.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, which was previously denied due to lack of evidence. The Veteran contends his diabetes started during service or within one year after separation.

The claim of service connection for residuals of prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus is granted, with the exception that the claims are remanded to obtain more information about the Veteran's exposure to hazardous chemicals and asbestos.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral glaucoma, a compensable rating for chloracne, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for type II diabetes mellitus. The denial was based on lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board finds that there is a possibility that his hypertension may be related to his diabetes and herbicide exposure, warranting further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions including lupus disorder, CAD with congestive heart failure and bypass surgery, thyroid disorder, and diabetes mellitus, type II, due to exposure to herbicide agents. The AOJ must submit multiple requests to the JSRRC covering different 60-day periods to verify the Veteran's reported exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for heart disease and diabetes mellitus are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% from July 3, 2013 to August 29, 2016. The rating for ischemic heart disease remains at 30%. The Veteran's headaches and diabetes are not service-connected.