Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran served within the territorial waters of Vietnam. The VA will seek additional records and provide a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's IHD and diabetes mellitus if he did not serve in Vietnam.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection. Service connection for scleroderma and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are granted, but a rating greater than 10 percent for type 2 diabetes mellitus and an initial compensable rating for left foot surgical scar remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, renal cell carcinoma, and PTSD have been granted. The claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acute renal failure, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension were related to service, including exposure to benzene. The issues include determining if these conditions are service-connected.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure are remanded as the Board cannot determine if he served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, back disability, and prostate cancer residuals are denied. However, the Veteran is granted service connection for prostate cancer residuals due to herbicide agent exposure during his Vietnam-era service in Thailand.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection of diabetic retinopathy. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings, earlier effective dates, and TDIU are also remanded due to incomplete examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for IHD, DM II, Bladder Cancer, Renal Cell Carcinoma, and Bilateral Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Extremities due to exposure to herbicides (AO) and radiation.,A remand is required to determine if the Veteran had regular and repeated contact with C-123 aircraft known to have been used to spray an herbicide agent during the Vietnam era, as well as to verify his service at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, and at Clear Air Force Station in Alaska.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and whether a spill occurred on board the USS Algol. The AOJ is instructed to request additional evidence from the Veteran, contact service departments for ship logs and manifests, and conduct further development as needed.

The Veteran's eye disorder, sleep apnea, heart disorder, skin disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and major depressive disorder are remanded for further development due to possible in-service exposure to herbicide agents and other chemicals and radioactive materials at Seneca Army Depot and Fort Gordon.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents in Korea. The AOJ is instructed to seek an environmental toxicologist's opinion on whether the Veteran was exposed to contaminants associated with Agent Orange via consumption of river water near the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's service records show exposure to herbicide agents while stationed on the USS Oriskany off the coast of Vietnam. The Board finds a remand is warranted for VA examination and review of deck logs to determine if he was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his service. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to assess skin conditions affecting the feet and legs, as well as headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, liver transplant, and a kidney disorder associated with diabetes mellitus, type II. Service connection for hepatitis C is denied as there is no evidence of current disability or causation. The right knee disorder claim was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for renal condition, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and bilateral knee disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,These issues are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to make a determination on their merits.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, bilateral pes planus, skin disability (claimed as a rash on forearm, elbow, calves and eyelids), and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting evidence regarding the type of diabetes mellitus and potential in-service exposure to VOCs or herbicides. The Veteran's service records need to be verified, and his Social Security Administration (SSA) records should also be obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's August 2009 Notice of Disagreement was timely in appealing the July 2009 denial of service connection for hypertension. The issue is being remanded to provide an SOC and allow the Veteran to perfect his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information to verify the Veteran's claimed herbicide exposure while stationed in Korea, and for further consideration of the claim on a direct basis if necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as there was no evidence of in-service complaints or treatment and no continuity of symptomatology since service. The Board also found that there is no evidence of a nexus between service and the Veteran’s diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's eye disability, including whether it is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus or Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran needs a VA examination to address these issues.