Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is due to herbicide exposure or proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypertension was caused by his service-connected PTSD, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The effective date for the TDIU claim is set at August 13, 2007, when the Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and found that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active service. The decision also addressed peripheral neuropathy and atrial fibrillation, finding them secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to service-connected conditions, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Board denies the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the current severity of his diabetes mellitus, as well as whether his hypertension is related to his diabetes or another service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a bilateral eye disability, and depression as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder NOS, is found to be related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The issues of service connection for urinary tract infections and prostatitis are remanded as the evidence does not provide sufficient information on their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, to include as due to alleged exposure to herbicides, is being remanded for additional development and consideration.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus type II is denied as his condition does not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy, upper and lower extremities, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, is also denied.

The Veteran's nephropathy, characterized as toxic nephropathy associated with diabetes mellitus, is now rated at 30 percent disabling effective February 4, 2013. His erectile dysfunction and hypertension are already service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death. The issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is also inextricably intertwined with the main claim and must be addressed prior to adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran, and his widow requested substitution as the appellant. The issue of entitlement to service connection for high cholesterol has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

All claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are granted. The Veteran's service-connected peripheral vascular disease is rated at 40 percent effective June 26, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim is dismissed due to withdrawal. The skin cancer disorder claim is denied as there is no evidence of a relationship between the condition and service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Type II diabetes mellitus, claimed as the result of herbicide exposure, is granted due to his presumed in-service exposure and subsequent development of the condition decades after service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not related to his military service or any incident therein. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2; hypertension; and a skin disorder were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board has ordered a new examination to address the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, including diabetic complications. The remand also requires addressing previous medical records and opinions.