Diabetes decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, as well as his claim for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral pes planus. The VA will be required to provide a new examination and obtain an opinion regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for BPH was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his active duty. The claim for TDIU prior to August 12, 2017 was granted due to the combined rating of at least 70 percent and multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure in Thailand and no nexus between his current diagnosis and military service.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused or contributed substantially to by his military service, and the Board found no evidence linking any conditions he died from to his time in active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to determine if his heart disabilities and hypertension are related to service, including considering whether he was exposed to herbicides during service. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not considered presumptively service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it manifested within a year of discharge.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The appeal as to all other issues is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining complete VA treatment records and service personnel records. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss will be evaluated again, as his condition may have worsened since the last examination. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is also remanded to determine if it is related to exposure at Camp Lejeune during active duty. Additionally, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to diabetes mellitus will be considered.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney disease, but has remanded the issues of diabetes mellitus type II, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and residuals of a left hip replacement due to duty-related aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, acid reflux, and post-kidney transplant kidney disease. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and the cause of his death. The VA will need to verify if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during service, determine if diabetes mellitus contributed to his death, and obtain additional medical records.

The Board has decided that there is insufficient information to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service, and his diabetes mellitus may be related to this exposure. The case is being remanded for further investigation.

The Veteran's claims for dizziness, type 2 diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, and left testicle condition have all been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,There are no service-connected disabilities related to the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy due to herbicide exposure, including autopsies of deceased pilots in Vietnam. Additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during these procedures.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related conditions are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection for diabetic retinopathy is also denied as there is no direct or secondary link to the Veteran's diabetes.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer to include as secondary to herbicide exposure.,Service connection is granted for eye disability (glaucoma) and skin disability to include service-connected disabilities or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to an issue regarding the Veteran's combat service and the award of the Combat Action Ribbon. The appellant is seeking service connection for various conditions, but the appeal will be reconsidered with additional information about the Veteran's claimed combat service.

All service connection claims for various conditions have been dismissed.,The Veteran's tension headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected orthopedic injuries and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes type II, coronary artery disease, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and mood disorder, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted his TDIU claim based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's death and its cause. The appellant is asked to provide any additional medical records, particularly those related to her diabetes or hypertension, as well as any evidence of contact along the perimeter of military facilities in Thailand where herbicidal agents may have been used.