Diabetes Board decisions

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.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was not related to service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Veteran did not have any pending claims at the time of his death. The Veteran served as a recognized guerrilla but this does not qualify him for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, left and right knee disorders, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, alleging exposure to herbicides during his tour in Okinawa. The Board finds that the claims file contains evidence indicating possible exposure to herbicide agents but lacks sufficient documentation to substantiate this claim. Therefore, a remand is required to obtain additional records and corroborate the Veteran's claims.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. Service connection is denied for an acquired eye disability, chronic sleep disability, high cholesterol, type II diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's death was attributed to metastatic rectal cancer, but the cause of his death is being remanded for further verification and medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent, and his tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Veteran's CAD has been granted a 30 percent rating effective May 31, 2011, and a 60 percent rating effective April 4, 2012. His diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent for each affected extremity. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathies are all rated at the maximum schedular ratings. Effective dates have been granted for various conditions and disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional evidence needs to be considered before a final decision can be made on the claims for initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral cataracts and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The case is remanded to allow for further development regarding the Veteran's entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a disability manifested by malaise, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have all been denied.,Service connection has not been established for any of these conditions on a direct basis due to lack of evidence showing their onset during active duty service or being related to such service.

Effective dates of April 21, 2014 are granted for the grants of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II (DM2) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Effective dates prior to April 21, 2014 are denied for all other issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was reopened and granted due to herbicide exposure. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, but the heart disorder claim is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's cause of death, cardio-respiratory failure with metastatic cancer, is not service connected as the evidence does not show that his renal cell carcinoma was related to or caused by service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board found no causal relationship between the Veteran’s active service and his diagnosed IHD or DMII.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 27, 2013 is being remanded due to the need for further adjudication of CUE claims. The issues are referred back to the AOJ for initial adjudication.