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Statements of Principles

Diabetes mellitus - Surgery to the pancreas Factor

Surgery to the pancreas usually involves resection (removal by cutting) of all or part of the pancreas. Surgery may be undertaken because of pancreatic infection, a pancreatic pseudocyst, stricture of the pancreatic duct, pain relief in chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic surgery may also be required following severe blunt or penetrating trauma to the pancreas.

There may be reference to pancreatic debridement (cutting away damaged or infected tissue), distal pancreatectomy, Whipple operation (pancreatoduodenectomy), pancreaticojejunostomy or total pancreatectomy.

If a veteran or member had undergone surgery to the pancreas this would be recorded in doctors' notes and/or hospital records. However, these records may have been destroyed or can no longer be obtained. Therefore, if there is a reliable history of pancreatic surgery at a particular time, this generally will be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence. Seek medical advice if it is unclear whether the claimed history of surgery to the pancreas is medically feasible.

Last reviewed for CCPS 12 March 2008.

Preliminary questions [10534]

10656 there is some evidence that surgery to the pancreas may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

10657 the veteran has undergone surgery to the pancreas at some time.

10659 the veteran underwent surgery to the pancreas for treatment of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

10658  the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery to the pancreas and VEA service for diabetes mellitus.

10666 for treatment of the identified illness or injury, the veteran underwent surgery to the pancreas before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

10660   the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery to the pancreas and VEA service for the clinical onset of diabetes mellitus.

10662  the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery to the pancreas and operational service for the clinical onset of diabetes mellitus.

or

10663  the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery to the pancreas and eligible service for the clinical onset of diabetes mellitus.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

28532 for treatment of the identified illness or injury, the veteran underwent surgery to the pancreas before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

10661   the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery to the pancreas and VEA service for the clinical worsening of diabetes mellitus.

10664  the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery to the pancreas and operational service for the clinical worsening of diabetes mellitus.

or

10665  the veteran has established the causal connection between the surgery to the pancreas and eligible service for the clinical worsening of diabetes mellitus.

Clinical onset and operational service [10662]

10668  the identified illness or injury for which surgery to the pancreas was undergone is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [10663]

10669  the identified illness or injury for which surgery to the pancreas was undergone is causally related to eligible service.

Clinical worsening and operational service [10664]

10668  the identified illness or injury for which surgery to the pancreas was undergone is causally related to operational service.

10670 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the identified illness or injury for which surgery to the pancreas was undergone is causally related.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [10665]

10669  the identified illness or injury for which surgery to the pancreas was undergone is causally related to eligible service.

10671 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the identified illness or injury for which surgery to the pancreas was undergone is causally related.