Diabetes decisions — 2001

The VA did not cause the veteran's diabetes mellitus and their treatment did not result in an increase in severity of his condition. Therefore, compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus based on VA treatment are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in a previous decision. The Board also denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis due to injections received at a VA medical center.

The VA Regional Office denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, and a compensable rating for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right arm.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and respiratory disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, left knee disability, and bilateral hip disability are also being reviewed.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing the veteran's claims file to determine if his service-connected heart disease contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to changes in the law and failure to provide proper notice.

The veteran's appeal for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities has been withdrawn before a decision was made.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is rated at 60 percent, and separate ratings of 10 percent are assigned for diabetic neuropathy in both lower extremities. The claim for increased rating for major depression remains pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate disorder, and pulmonary disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The veteran's spouse, who is disabled and requires assistance with daily activities such as dressing and going in/out of the house, does not meet the criteria for aid and attendance benefits due to her limited functional limitations.

The veteran's lower extremity weakness and loss of function are attributed to non-service connected disabilities, thus denying entitlement to specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also denied his request for accrued benefits. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's death to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claim can be decided, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether diabetes mellitus was present during service and if it contributed to the cause of death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and osteoarthritis of the knees. The claim for hemorrhagic fever was reopened but not granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus and low back condition with degenerative joint disease, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no medical evidence showing that the disability was incurred or aggravated during his period of active duty. The other claims were not addressed due to lack of information.

The Board found that the evidence submitted did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to new evidence submitted, including exposure to herbicides during active duty in Vietnam. The Secretary of VA recently added diabetes to the list of diseases associated with herbicide exposure. The case is remanded for further consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran is unemployable due to multiple disabilities, including chronic lumbar syndrome and degenerative joint disease. The evidence shows he suffers from a combination of conditions that prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.