Diabetes decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically hepatitis C infection acquired from blood transfusions during surgeries for his service-connected conditions. As a result, the cause of the veteran's death is now considered service connected.

The Board has determined that the claimed conditions are not service-connected.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and is remanding the case back to the RO for additional consideration.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and will remand the case for additional review by a VA oncologist.

The Board found that the veteran does not suffer from diabetes, internal bleeding, or hypertension as a result of service and denied his claims for these conditions.

The veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of his appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for low back disability. The claims for pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus are still pending as they have not yet been decided.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for special monthly pension on account of need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence and clarification of the evidence. The case is now being returned to the RO for the requested development, including obtaining service personnel records and arranging for medical examinations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to intraventricular cerebral hemorrhage, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnosis and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to Agent Orange, and this decision grants his claim.

The Board finds that the veteran's diabetes mellitus and obesity are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after his military service.

The veteran's spondylosis of the lumbosacral spine is rated at 40 percent, effective January 1, 2003. The initial rating for type II diabetes mellitus has been granted and assigned a 20 percent rating, effective July 5, 2001. Separate ratings have also been granted for various disabilities associated with the veteran's diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, requiring insulin and a restricted diet and regulation of activities, meets the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicides during active duty in Vietnam is granted, effective September 7, 2000. The liberalizing law allowing presumptive service connection for type II diabetes was enacted on July 9, 2001.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to pension purposes and service connection for diabetes.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.