Diabetes decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus and for service connection for hypertension, both as directly related to service.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 40 percent for diabetes mellitus and a separate initial rating of 20 percent for erectile dysfunction due to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has received notification of a withdrawal of the appeal from the appellant, and therefore, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from a military hospital and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has granted service connection for fatty liver disease with elevated enzymes, but denied service connection for hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus. The veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is currently rated at a noncompensable level.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and Type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his Vietnam-era service. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a back disability is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an inguinal hernia as a result of exposure to herbicides. The claim for arthritis of the left knee was remanded due to lack of development.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to new and material evidence. The veteran's diabetes is not presumed to be related to his Vietnam-era service or exposure to herbicides, but he was diagnosed with type I diabetes in 1976. As a result, the claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded to the RO for further development and consideration, including determining the validity of the veteran's debt and adjudicating his request for a waiver.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, cataracts and glaucoma, and pancreatitis due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.,The veteran claimed he was first treated for diabetes at Westover Air Force Base in 1968/1969, but the medical records do not confirm this until November 1970.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during service, nor are they presumed to have been incurred within one year of discharge. The scar on the right third finger is also denied as it is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and diabetes mellitus, Type 2, were incurred in service or contributed to the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, diabetes mellitus with right above-knee amputation, and hypoalbuminemia. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hypothyroidism was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of his radiation therapy for larynx cancer in 1993, but denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 as it did not meet the criteria for negligence or carelessness on part of VA.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no service-connected disability contributed to his death and there was insufficient evidence linking any current conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, which are presumed to have been incurred during captivity as a former POW. The appellant is also eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35.

The appellant claims additional disability due to VA medical treatment in February and March of 2001, resulting in current conditions such as Staphylococcus aureus infection, osteomyelitis, nerve damage, diabetes, and organ failure. The Board has ordered further development to obtain all relevant records.