Diabetes decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for hypertension and heart disorder. The veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, effective February 1, 2001. The evidence shows that his diabetes requires insulin and a restricted diet, with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating. The RO will schedule an additional VA examination to assess the current severity of his diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's non-service connected disabilities, including a chronic low back disorder and obesity, are deemed to render him unemployable. As such, he is not eligible for SDVI.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding his alleged service in Vietnam and whether he has been exposed to herbicides. The case will be reviewed again after further development.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and denied DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that the conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied in August 2002. The Board dismissed the appeal because service connection for DM had been severed, and there is no longer a case or controversy over the current disability rating.

The Board found that the veteran's type II diabetes was not incurred as a result of his active military service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic neuropathy of his upper extremities, finding that an effective date prior to September 12, 1996, for service connection was not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for pancreatic cancer and awarded a 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus, effective from the date of receipt of his claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for cause of death and accrued benefits due to lack of evidence linking the veteran's death to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VCAA compliance and a VA examination for thrombophlebitis with venous insufficiency of the right leg.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for atrial fibrillation as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravates his pre-existing atrial fibrillation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 8, 2001, for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus. The effective date is set at May 8, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have not been well grounded and are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if new evidence has been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service medical records and alternate sources of evidence. The appellant's claim will be adjudicated again to determine if he is entitled to service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's death was caused by non-service-connected gastric cancer, but his service-connected diabetes mellitus and associated heart disease contributed to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, including as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence did not show any in-service exposure to herbicides or continuous symptomatology of these conditions post-service.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural deficiencies in VCAA notice and for further development of the evidence.