Diabetes decisions — 2001

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, defective hearing, hypertension, and PTSD have been denied. Service connection has been established for diabetes mellitus (Type II).

The Board has remanded the case due to a recent amendment to VA regulations, which now includes Type 2 diabetes as associated with exposure to Agent Orange. The appellant's claim for service connection for numbness and tingling of the arms, legs, and toes, secondary to Agent Orange exposure, should be recharacterized to include diabetes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, and thus granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran incurred dental trauma to tooth number 26 during active service, and he is therefore entitled to outpatient dental services and treatment as well as related appliances for this tooth. The other claims of service connection were not granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and status post L4-5 diskectomy for herniated nucleus pulposus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has determined that the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability are met.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the eligibility criteria for dependent's educational assistance under Chapter 35.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, and other service-connected conditions were denied as the evidence did not show symptoms that warranted a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, tinea cruris, and warts on his right knee. The conditions preexisted service or were not shown to have increased in severity during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's non-service connected disabilities necessitate regular aid and attendance, allowing for special monthly pension by reason of need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a fracture of L1-3, and for a right thumb disability and bilateral knee disabilities. The effective dates for these decisions are not specified.

The veteran's disabilities, including schizophrenia, diabetes mellitus, and lumbosacral strain, are so severe that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds the evidence at least in equipoise as to whether the veteran meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board found that VA's failure to provide the veteran with prednisone on his discharge from the hospital contributed to his death, and awarded DIC benefits under direct service connection.

The veteran's appeal for reimbursement of unauthorized medical prescription expenses from January 27, 1996 to July 9, 1997 was denied as the VA or other federal facilities were not feasibly available and there was no showing of a medical emergency.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH insurance) was denied because his nonservice-connected conditions, including obesity, diabetes mellitus, colostomy, and emphysema, combined with his service-connected PTSD, resulted in a mortality ratio of risk exceeding 300, which is not considered 'good health' as defined by VA regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetic retinopathy was not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's service connection claim for Type II diabetes mellitus with diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to Agent Orange is granted. The initial rating claims for post-traumatic stress disorder are also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for special monthly compensation by reason of need for regular aid and attendance, given his reduced function due to symptoms associated with his back disability.

The veteran died of myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease, and burial benefits are not granted as he was not service-connected for any disability at the time of his death.