Diabetes decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, TDIU, and an increased rating for his left knee disability. The effective date of the grant of service connection for osteochondroma of the left tibia was found to be final due to lack of timely notice of disagreement.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also denied eligibility for dependents' educational assistance benefits under Chapter 35. The causes of death were listed as cardio-pulmonary arrest, with underlying causes of congestive heart failure, hypertension, and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetic retinopathy, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and verify the veteran's claimed Vietnam-era exposure.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including osteoarthritis, actinic keratosis, ulcers, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and prostate cancer, all claimed to be due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The appeal was dismissed as there is no indication of such exposure.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's diabetes mellitus, finding that it only required insulin and restricted diet.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher disability rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, which he contends became worse in 1997.,Service connection was granted for gastroparesis and intestinal dysmotility disorder secondary to the service-connected diabetes on August 31, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that while he was presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during his Vietnam service, there is no evidence linking his current condition to service or exposure. The Board also noted that his diabetes was secondary to chronic pancreatitis.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was granted service connection and rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's current diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus was not presumed to be incurred as a result of exposure to Agent Orange during service, and thus his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus is established, based on a current diagnosis and presumed exposure to herbicides during his naval service in Vietnam.

The veteran's case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities have resulted in the loss of use of his lower extremities.

The veteran claims service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The RO needs to verify his claimed Vietnam service and gather additional information from him.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and skin cancer. The decision also noted that new evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for osteoarthritis with disc disease of the dorsocervical spine.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and diabetes mellitus type II associated with herbicide exposure due to a lack of competent medical evidence of current disabilities or a link between service and these conditions.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Insurance was not timely, and therefore denied. There are no premiums to be waived as the veteran did not meet the criteria for a waiver of premiums under VA regulations.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertension (claimed now to include congestive heart failure) and granted it. The claims for diabetes mellitus and ulcerative colitis were not supported by the evidence presented.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical evidence to decide the claim of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy secondary to a left thoracotomy.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.