Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further factual development regarding his exposure to herbicides during service. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its related complications remain inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus type 2, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, anxiety, and depression due to outstanding service treatment records not being available. The Veteran is presumed to have had these conditions during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, and his request for a TDIU (Total Disability Independent of Rating) was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating or a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by hepatocellular carcinoma, with other significant conditions including hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and portal hypertension. The claim is remanded to determine if the Veteran served in Thailand or Vietnam and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is remanded due to the submission of new VA examination reports and ongoing treatment records. The AOJ will review these documents and provide a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed related to his exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Thailand. The issue of hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus remains remanded for further development.

The Veteran's high cholesterol, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression), astigmatism and refractive error of the eyes, frequent urination, crescentic IgA nephropathy with congenital left atrophic kidney condition, right knee disability, left ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and acid reflux are all denied as service connection. The Veteran's character of discharge for his period of active service from March 2007 to April 2012 is a bar to VA benefits.,The Veteran was not diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder or multiple personality disorder during his military service.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to increased evaluations for bilateral upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy. The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II was granted with an effective date of January 16, 2014, but no earlier as the disability did not arise before that date. An effective date of November 15, 2005, but no earlier, was granted for diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted for purposes of accrued benefits based on substitution of the appellant due to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Diabetes Mellitus Type II, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension have been granted. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back strain, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease (also claimed as coronary stent placement), and neurological disorder have been denied. The claim for a rating of 100 percent for schizophrenia has been granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from February 1, 2013 to July 7, 2016 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to address evidence favorable to the Veteran. The GERD claim will be reconsidered on a secondary basis, and TDIU will require further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and Type II diabetes mellitus are granted as due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus II, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are granted. The Board has remanded for further development on issues related to hearing loss, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and basal cell carcinoma.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple myeloma, hypertension, acute renal failure, and diabetes mellitus type II.,Service connection is being remanded for further development on the following issues: lumbar spine condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, right foot condition, left foot condition, right hand condition, and left hand condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, kidney stones, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to their inextricability with his petition to reopen a claim for service connection for Crohn’s disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IHD was denied, but his claims for DM and PN were granted. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's PN.,DM has been granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's GERD is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion considering in-service exposures and ongoing symptoms.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded as there may be an issue with verifying exposure to herbicide agents during service. The AOJ should verify whether the USS Coral Sea was within the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea of Vietnam while the Veteran was aboard.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is being remanded for a supplemental medical opinion considering his asserted in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's skin disability is being remanded for a supplemental medical opinion addressing whether it is related to bare-skin exposure to jet fuel during service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and a mood disorder) is being remanded as there may be issues with verifying in-service stressors. The AOJ should attempt to corroborate the Veteran's reported stressors involving witnessing the death of a fellow serviceman aboard the USS Coral Sea during the '1967 cruise'.,The Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, hiatal hernia, and erectile dysfunction are being remanded as secondary to his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ should attempt to obtain VA treatment records from Portland VAMC for the period between 1970 and 2002.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA audiological examination records, which may provide evidence of a worsening disorder.,The Veteran's ear infection disability is being remanded as there may be issues with obtaining relevant private treatment records. The AOJ should attempt to obtain these records and complete any necessary requests.