Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression was reopened and granted. The effective date is July 16, 2013.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied. The Veteran did not submit evidence demonstrating current tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities are granted.,Service connection is also granted for stroke, endarterectomy of the carotid artery, and peripheral artery disease of the lower extremities due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted reopening of the previously denied claims for service connection for hypertension and tinea pedis, but denied reopening of the claim for morbid obesity with reduced vital capacity. The Veteran's asthma is rated at 30 percent, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus prior to June 25, 2014 is rated at 10 percent, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus prior to June 25, 2014 is rated at 10 percent, and diabetic nephropathy is rated at 100 percent. The claims for increased ratings are all denied.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder are granted. The Veteran’s petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The petition to reopen service connection for removal of papillomatous lesions on the lip and right axilla, as well as hypertension, is denied. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to the need for updated VA examinations and assessments of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran served within the territorial waters of Vietnam. The VA will seek additional records and provide a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's IHD and diabetes mellitus if he did not serve in Vietnam.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection. Service connection for scleroderma and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are granted, but a rating greater than 10 percent for type 2 diabetes mellitus and an initial compensable rating for left foot surgical scar remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, renal cell carcinoma, and PTSD have been granted. The claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acute renal failure, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension were related to service, including exposure to benzene. The issues include determining if these conditions are service-connected.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure are remanded as the Board cannot determine if he served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, back disability, and prostate cancer residuals are denied. However, the Veteran is granted service connection for prostate cancer residuals due to herbicide agent exposure during his Vietnam-era service in Thailand.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection of diabetic retinopathy. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings, earlier effective dates, and TDIU are also remanded due to incomplete examinations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for IHD, DM II, Bladder Cancer, Renal Cell Carcinoma, and Bilateral Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Extremities due to exposure to herbicides (AO) and radiation.,A remand is required to determine if the Veteran had regular and repeated contact with C-123 aircraft known to have been used to spray an herbicide agent during the Vietnam era, as well as to verify his service at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, and at Clear Air Force Station in Alaska.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and whether a spill occurred on board the USS Algol. The AOJ is instructed to request additional evidence from the Veteran, contact service departments for ship logs and manifests, and conduct further development as needed.

The Veteran's eye disorder, sleep apnea, heart disorder, skin disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and major depressive disorder are remanded for further development due to possible in-service exposure to herbicide agents and other chemicals and radioactive materials at Seneca Army Depot and Fort Gordon.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents in Korea. The AOJ is instructed to seek an environmental toxicologist's opinion on whether the Veteran was exposed to contaminants associated with Agent Orange via consumption of river water near the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's service records show exposure to herbicide agents while stationed on the USS Oriskany off the coast of Vietnam. The Board finds a remand is warranted for VA examination and review of deck logs to determine if he was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his service. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to assess skin conditions affecting the feet and legs, as well as headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, liver transplant, and a kidney disorder associated with diabetes mellitus, type II. Service connection for hepatitis C is denied as there is no evidence of current disability or causation. The right knee disorder claim was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for renal condition, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and bilateral knee disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,These issues are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to make a determination on their merits.