Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination to assess PTSD and a diabetes mellitus evaluation. The service connection issue will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and its complications, have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment since May 30, 2007.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as service connection was established due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.,His adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression is granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for asbestosis has been denied. The issues of service connection for type II diabetes, heart condition (also claimed as congestive heart failure), osteoarthritis, hyperlipidemia, and TDIU have not been addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and needs further examination.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and/or chronic kidney disease. As a result, the criteria for secondary service connection have been met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining ship logs from January 1962 to April 1962. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ after this is completed.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as a result of herbicide exposure during service. The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD prior to February 15, 2010 and from April 1, 2010 to July 20, 2011 has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not service-connected because it is due to diabetes, which is not a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA evaluation by a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 did not have its onset during active service and is not related to such service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence of record.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability (hypertension) in service or within one year following separation, and the Veteran did not provide credible evidence linking his current condition to service. The Board also determined that hypertension was not proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus or CAD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant a grant of increased ratings or TDIU. The evidence does not support an increase in rating for hemorrhoids, and there is no indication of diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of verification of herbicide exposure and for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and hepatocellular cancer, which the Board finds to be secondary to his diabetes. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is rendered moot due to the grant of service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Board hearing due to his inability to attend the previously scheduled hearing.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam and to obtain relevant medical records. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds that there is not sufficient evidence to establish exposure to Agent Orange or any other herbicide during his service. As a result, the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy are denied.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction have been denied as they are not related to his military service or herbicide exposure.,Service connection cannot be granted because there is no evidence of a chronic disease in service. The Veteran has not provided any credible evidence that he was exposed to herbicides during his military service.