Diabetes decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's spouse's claim for special monthly pension based on a need for regular aid and attendance or due to being housebound, finding that she did not meet the criteria as her disabilities do not require regular aid and assistance.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to diabetes mellitus and COPD, with other significant conditions contributing to death but not related to the underlying cause.

The VA determined that the veteran's death was not caused by VA care, and thus denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims of service connection for high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease have been denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's service connection claim for Type II diabetes mellitus, associated with herbicide exposure during his Vietnam-era service, is granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound. The underlying disease process that led to her husband's death was not related to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluation of his left leg scar and service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Board found that there was no evidence to support an increase in disability rating or service connection.

The Board found no evidence of any current eye disorders related to service, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, status post ligament damage in the left shoulder, and benign prostatic hypertrophy, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The claimant is also ineligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence submitted was not new and material.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated during his active service or a period of active duty for training. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found that the cause of death, aspiration pneumonia, was not proximately caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or fault. The veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for the cause of his death. Additionally, the appellant does not meet the requirements for dependents' educational assistance.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD did not substantially or materially contribute to his death. The cause of death was determined to be nosocomial pneumonia, which began many years after service and was not caused by or incident to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant due to lack of evidence showing loss of use of one lower extremity without aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.

The RO granted an increased rating of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus effective from November 23, 2000. The veteran's other claims were either denied or not addressed in the decision.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.