Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure and service connection for the cause of death. The Veteran's pancreatic cancer is being reviewed, along with his diabetes, which may be linked to herbicide exposure.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Appellant requested to withdraw the appeal regarding the reopening of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while serving aboard the USS Ticonderoga, which would trigger presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral lower extremity nerve disorder, and atrial fibrillation due to potential herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's dates of service need to be confirmed, and he needs to provide private treatment records if available.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and coronary artery disease was dismissed. The Board also remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus, type II, and coronary artery disease due to potential herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD is denied as the evidence does not support a link between his current condition and in-service asbestos exposure.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there was no increase in severity during service. The Veteran had pre-existing hearing loss at entry into service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for DM II (diabetes mellitus type 2) due to herbicide agent exposure is remanded as VA needs to verify his reported exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status, thus his claim for special monthly compensation is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides during his service on the U.S.S. Paricutin within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnamese coastline.

The Veteran's death in January 2015 was not related to service, and therefore his claim for service connection for the cause of his death is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent disabling, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as he only required restricted diet and an oral glycemic agent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of various extremities due to herbicide agent exposure. The case is being returned to determine if the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam or its territorial waters during his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee DJD, as well as service connection for diabetes mellitus were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or elsewhere warranting presumptive exposure to an herbicide agent (including Agent Orange).

The Board has granted a TDIU effective June 3, 2015, based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 and heart dysfunction contributed to the Veteran's death, resulting in a grant of service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and a skin condition (claimed as psoriasis) due to toxic herbicide exposure, specifically because there is uncertainty about whether the ship USS JOHN PAUL JONES operated within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam. The Board also requested an examination to determine if the Veteran's current skin conditions are related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a stay of adjudication caused by the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, and because the current record is insufficient to determine whether the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam or its territorial waters. The RO needs to obtain the Veteran's complete personnel records, deck logs for his ships, and verify his statements about his service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for further development.

The Veteran's stroke was granted service connection, and his TDIU claim is also granted.,However, the heart disorder, psoriasis, and diabetes mellitus claims have been withdrawn.

The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.