Diabetes decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the Veteran’s cause of death, and has determined that diabetes mellitus, which was listed on his death certificate as an underlying cause of his death, is presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure in Thailand. As a result, the Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and need for additional evidence. The issues include PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypotension, diabetes, and kidney failure have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.,Diabetes was not caused by service, including the alleged consumption of 'bug juice' during boxing. The Veteran did not experience symptoms since discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for IHD, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for diabetes was not reopened as new and material evidence was not provided.

The petition to reopen the PTSD claim is granted, and a 40% rating for diabetes mellitus is granted. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim remains pending as it was reopened with new evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was granted with a rating of 50% effective December 16, 2013. The appeals for higher initial disability ratings and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's CAD and DM are granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure.,Peripheral neuropathy in both feet is granted as secondary to service-connected DM, while nerve damage in both legs remains pending due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the service connection claims and the reopening of a pneumonia claim before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's appeal for high cholesterol was dismissed as she withdrew her appeal.,Her claim for an increased evaluation of her total abdominal hysterectomy was denied, and the current rating is at its maximum level under applicable criteria.,Service connection for diabetes and hypertension were both denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions during or within one year after service.,The Veteran's claim for reopening her psychiatric disorder claim was granted. The Board will now address the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including whether it is related to service or secondary to her hysterectomy.,reasoning_summary

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, sinusitis, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to a lack of recent VA examinations. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of diabetes due to potential exposure to Agent Orange during service. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, right upper extremity and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right CTS, and left CTS as there is no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after service.,The Board also denied service connection for TBI due to lack of current diagnosis and credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.,Service connection was not granted for a nervous condition (diagnosed as depression NOS and PTSD) because there is no indication of a current disability related to an in-service event or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to herbicide agent exposure at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam. The Veteran's statements are considered credible and probative as they align with the circumstances of his military service during the Vietnam war.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus due to secondary to service-connected hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy. The Veteran's current diagnoses of sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus are not related to his active service, and there is no evidence that they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, hypertension, psoriasis, and migraine headaches. The case is remanded to determine the relationship between the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and her service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's right eye disorder and its relationship to service. The examiner is requested to clarify the diagnosis, determine if it is a congenital defect or acquired disorder, and assess whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for prostate condition, cholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus type II are denied. The Board has remanded the issues of left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, generalized anxiety disorder with nightmares and flashbacks, and hypertension for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to withdrawals. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, posterior calcaneal bursitis (right foot), and atherosclerotic heart disease are remanded.