Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that his death was not caused by any service-connected disabilities or related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases of hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), and diabetes mellitus due to potential service connection issues. Specifically, it is unclear if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while serving aboard the U.S.S. Fresno in Vietnam waters.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of heart, right knee, left knee, low back, and skin disorders have been remanded by the Board.,No effective date has been assigned as all issues are currently being reviewed.

The Board has determined that additional service records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for diabetes, bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral strain (chronic lower back pain), missing lower teeth, and permanent scarring of the lower lip. The VA will obtain these records and then readjudicate the cases.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water, as he served at the base for over a month. The VA is instructed to obtain medical opinions regarding whether each of the claimed conditions are related to this exposure.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and ischemic heart disease is granted. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to exposure to Agent Orange is granted. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's service records and eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of a vehicle or adaptive equipment. Additionally, the issue of entitlement to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for back disability, erectile dysfunction, initial compensable rating for left subclavian artery aneurysm, a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.,VA treatment records are requested as they may be relevant to the issues on appeal.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary for the claims on appeal regarding duodenal ulcers and diabetes mellitus type II, as they are inextricably intertwined with a motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a May 2008 rating decision. The claims will be remanded to allow for adjudication of the CUE motion.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The rating for bilateral pes planus with arthritis has been granted.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability.,There is no evidence of tuberculosis in the Veteran’s records, and there is no current diagnosis of tuberculosis. The claim for tuberculosis is denied.,The Veteran had diabetes mellitus but it did not manifest until after his discharge from service. Given the new statutory requirements under the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in the offshore waters of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type II, which he claims is due to in-service herbicide exposure, has been remanded. The Board requires further investigation into whether the U.S.S. Ingersoll was within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam during the relevant period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examination and treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and inguinal hernia are pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and diabetic retinopathy with early cataracts of both eyes is granted an increased rating to 40 percent.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea are remanded due to missing service medical records. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for VA to obtain any outstanding treatment records and in-service records. A VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but has remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased disability evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The claim for TDIU is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes have been granted as secondary to his left leg disability. The claim for hypertension is remanded.,A rating has not yet been assigned for the Veteran's scars.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding it related to herbicide agent exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn by his representative.