Citation Nr: 21010776 Decision Date: 02/25/21 Archive Date: 02/25/21 DOCKET NO. 18-22 806 Date: February 25, REMANDED Service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded. Service connection for hypertension is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from December 1994 to June 1996. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2017 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In January 2021, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge; a transcript of that hearing is of record. At his Board hearing, the Veteran testified that during service, he was on prioritized PT for his weight control. He began having symptoms of nausea, fatigue, and dizziness. He had not experienced these symptoms prior to this time during any basic or infantry training. He was not allowed to go to the doctor and was told to keep up the PT by his company commander. Once the Veteran was discharged from service, he continued to experience these symptoms. The Veteran’s service treatment records include an October 1995 note that the Veteran is on weight control. Further, a June 1996 examination notes a report by the Veteran that he was placed on Marine Corps weight control in August 1995. The Board finds that his contentions are consistent with his service. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is remanded. The Veteran was diagnosed with diabetes in 1999. The Veteran underwent a VA diabetes mellitus examination in July 2017. The Veteran was additionally diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. However, no etiological opinion was provided by the July 2017 examiner regarding the continuity of the Veteran’s in-service symptoms of dizziness, fatigue, and nausea and whether they relate to his currently diagnosed disability of diabetes mellitus. As such, the Board finds that VA’s duty to assist requires further development of the claims. A medical opinion is therefore needed to ascertain whether there is a nexus between the Veteran’s diabetes mellitus and his continuity of in-service symptoms of dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(4); McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). Service connection for hypertension is remanded. The Veteran was diagnosed with hypertension in 2010. The Veteran underwent a VA hypertension examination in July 2017. However, no etiological opinion was provided by the July 2017 examiner regarding the continuity of the Veteran’s in-service symptoms of dizziness, fatigue, and nausea and whether they relate to his currently diagnosed disability of hypertension. As such, the Board finds that VA’s duty to assist requires further development of the claims. A medical opinion is therefore needed to ascertain whether there is a nexus between the Veteran’s hypertension and his continuity of in-service symptoms of dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(4); McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain updated VA and non-VA treatment records. 2. Obtain an opinion from a qualified clinician regarding the Veteran’s diabetes mellitus. Schedule the Veteran for an examination (or telehealth interview, review of the record, etc., if an in-person examination is not feasible) only if deemed necessary by the clinician. The clinician should review the claims file (including this remand) and note such review was conducted. Based on review of the record, the clinician should provide an opinion with detailed rationale that responds to the following: Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s diabetes mellitus and/or diabetic peripheral neuropathy was either incurred in or otherwise related to the Veteran’s military service? Please explain why. The Veteran’s statements regarding experiences of symptoms nausea, dizziness, and fatigue during service and the continuity of these symptoms since service must be discussed. (Continued on the next page)   3. Obtain an opinion from a qualified clinician regarding the Veteran’s hypertension. Schedule the Veteran for an examination (or telehealth interview, review of the record, etc., if an in-person examination is not feasible) only if deemed necessary by the clinician. The clinician should review the claims file (including this remand) and note such review was conducted. Based on review of the record, the clinician should provide an opinion with detailed rationale that responds to the following: Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s hypertension was either incurred in or otherwise related to the Veteran’s military service? Please explain why. The Veteran’s statements regarding experiences of symptoms nausea, dizziness, and fatigue during service and the continuity of these symptoms since service must be discussed. Tiffany Dawson Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board I. Kerner, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.