Diabetes decisions — 2004

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus type II, finding no evidence of in-service onset or association with military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, secondary to Agent Orange exposure during his military service. The RO found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's current condition to his time in Vietnam.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to potential exposure to Agent Orange during service in Korea.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for skin disability, gastrointestinal disability, breast condition, and diabetes mellitus. However, it was determined that these conditions did not originate during or as a result of service and are not otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others denied. The veteran was granted service connection for various conditions but had his hearing loss rating continued at noncompensable level.

The veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for diabetic retinopathy and an effective date prior to July 18, 2001 are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies in the notification provided under the VCAA.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and diabetes mellitus due to potential exposure to herbicides in Korea. The veteran is asked to provide more specific information about his alleged stressors, including witnessing plastic bags filled with dead bodies floating down a river during service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed disabilities and to consider both old and new criteria for evaluating respiratory disorders. The case is being remanded to the RO for these purposes.

The veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, sexual dysfunction, amputation of right leg, arteriosclerosis, and enlarged heart were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have diabetes mellitus and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for PTSD was also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and an opinion regarding whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to exposure to herbicides including Agent Orange is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and his lay testimony regarding the stressors he experienced during his service in Saudi Arabia is accepted as conclusive evidence of their occurrence.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam is presumed and thus he qualifies for presumptive service connection.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus and related conditions are currently rated at the maximum available disability ratings.,The veteran seeks an increased rating for his impotency, which is not a symptom of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and providing specific VCAA notification.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development and examination, including addressing secondary service connection claims for multiple conditions associated with diabetes mellitus.