Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, including whether it was aggravated by his 1991 service or related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records from Emporia and any private medical records, as well as his Social Security Administration disability records. The Veteran will also be provided with new VA examinations for his hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, claimed as due to exposure to herbicide agents. However, the evidence does not establish that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service aboard the USS Hornet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, diagnosed in February 1993 and presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam, is entitled to service connection for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and separate ratings of 10 percent each for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's discharge from military service was under other than honorable conditions, which affects his eligibility for certain presumptive disabilities. The RO is instructed to seek clarification and verification of the nature of the Veteran's discharge from the service department.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the appellant is the Veteran's surviving spouse and whether his service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to cause death. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records, SSA records, and treatment records. The VA will also schedule a VA examination to determine if there is any relationship between post-service hypertension and in-service findings.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic spindle cell carcinoma, with diabetes mellitus listed as a significant condition contributing to his death. The Board finds that the cause of death is at least in equipoise with other evidence and grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as a result of Agent Orange exposure, finding no evidence of in-service exposure and no medical nexus between the condition and service.

The Board denied service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and his exposure to herbicides is presumed. The Board also found no evidence of a nexus between residuals, stroke, left lower extremity amputation, right lower extremity amputation, diabetic retinopathy, or peripheral neuropathy and service.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and chronic venous insufficiency (claimed as leg ulcers) due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by liver cancer, which is service-connected as diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the cause of death is deemed to be service connected.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his death, as well as whether other conditions contributed to his death.

The Board found that hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of their presence during service. The diagnoses were first documented after service, but the Veteran did not provide credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations and additional medical records. The issues of service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II (presumptive due to Vietnam service), heart disability, and neurological disability are on appeal.

Service connection was denied for all of the conditions listed in the claim, including diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, vision loss, a skin disability, obesity, and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, as due to exposure to herbicides, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his military service and his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the medical records.