Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides and to obtain his complete VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded for a new VA examination regarding his vestibular disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and psychiatric disability including PTSD due to incomplete evidence. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Morton's neuroma (claimed as a bilateral foot condition) has been withdrawn. The claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the throat injury sustained during the February 2010 left knee arthroscopy is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, as the current evidence does not provide sufficient information on this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service or service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes, left foot disorder, and upper torso rash were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's bone spurs of both heels are granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities, and his diabetes is also granted as secondary to these same disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while aboard the USS Kearsarge in 1965, 1967, and 1968. The appellant must provide additional evidence of such exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his active duty. The claim for SMC based on impotency is also denied due to lack of clear etiology.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and finds that diabetes mellitus, which was incurred during active service, contributed to his death. As such, the Veteran's cause of death is related to service exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetic retinopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a schedular rating in excess of 30 percent prior to June 18, 2007, and in excess of 50 percent from June 18, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, chronic bronchitis and COPD were denied. The Board also found that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability and diabetes mellitus have not been established as service-connected. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable criteria.

The Board denied service connection for Graves' disease, chronic allergies, and diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran also withdrew his appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by his period of active military service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is likely as not related to noise exposure during his period of active military service. The Veteran's chronic tinnitus is also likely as not related to noise exposure during his period of active military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus and whether it is related to his military service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's chronic atrial fibrillation is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, was a causative risk factor for the development of chronic atrial fibrillation.