Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and diabetes mellitus, type II, both claimed as resulting from herbicide exposure in Korea. The Veteran was not found to have been exposed to herbicides during his service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have onset in service and was not caused or permanently aggravated by his active military service, to include his service connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has received notification of the appellant's withdrawal of all issues, including service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus with chronic kidney disease, and hypertension. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertensive heart disease, renal failure, and residuals of stroke are denied as the evidence does not show a direct relationship to his military service or any presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the hands were granted effective July 16, 2007.,The Veteran's claim for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities was granted effective April 18, 2007.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current foot symptoms are not related to his active duty service, but rather are due to diabetic neuropathy and/or lumbar radiculopathy. As such, the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to diabetes mellitus type 2, peripheral neuropathy, and a heart disorder. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination regarding whether hypertension was aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus or other conditions. The Veteran's claim for service connection is pending and will be reviewed after additional development.

The Board denied service connection for GERD with hiatal hernia and diabetes mellitus, attributing the latter to herbicide exposure during service in Hawaii. The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for tinnitus and hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claim for service connection for idiopathic atrial fibrillation, including as secondary to ischemic cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus. The AMC will obtain VA treatment records from Austin Heart Hospital and Temple and Austin VAMCs, as well as private medical records if available. Additionally, a VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's atrial fibrillation and whether his service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated it.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tarsal tunnel syndrome and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the submission of additional VA treatment records that were not considered by the Board.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus requires insulin and a restricted diet, but not regulation of activities. The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes during the Veteran's initial period of active service or within one year following his discharge. The Veteran's diabetes was considered to have existed prior to service and not incurred in the line of duty.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's myocardial infarction occurred during a period of active military service, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The VA examiner opined it was less likely than not the heart disease was incurred on active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain private treatment records and to afford him a new examination in order to determine his employability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were also on appeal but the Veteran indicated he no longer wished to continue these appeals in his August 2008 substantive appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been granted. The issue of service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports and failure to comply with prior Board directives.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral eye disability are also presumed related to his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Korea. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and adjustment disorder, is also granted based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents.