Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus and all secondary conditions, finding that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and thus was not presumed to be exposed to Agent Orange. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and congestive heart failure (secondary to hypertension), finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for further development and review, including verification of exposure to chemicals in service that may be related to Agent Orange.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and a left shoulder disorder. Service connection is denied for hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease s/p stent placement, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes and ischemic heart disease (nonobstructive coronary artery disease) due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to adult respiratory distress syndrome, diabetes, renal disease and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The Board found that these conditions were not caused or substantially related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the reduction from a 40 percent to a 20 percent disability rating for type II diabetes mellitus was improper and restored the original 40 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and assigned a 100% rating, effective from the date of death (March 27, 2007). Service connection for prostate cancer is denied.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, Parkinson's disease, and peripheral neuropathy are denied as there is no evidence of service connection or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from October 1, 2006 to October 6, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for an additional VA examination and outstanding records. The AOJ will have an opportunity to review this evidence on remand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss have been granted. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his diabetes or exposure to herbicides contributed to it. The case will be remanded for further action.

Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, type II, a prostate disorder, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and left knee degenerative joint disease as the evidence does not support these claims. Service connection was previously denied for tinea pedis in 1973, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected heart condition, associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, contributed to his death from a subdural hematoma caused by a fall due to dizziness. The Board finds the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether this was the case and grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.