Diabetes decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain the veteran's medical records, schedule him for an examination, and consider his claims under the new rating criteria for spine disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as there is no competent clinical evidence of any such conditions during or after his military service.

The VA denied a higher disability rating for the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, which is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy warrants a 20 percent rating, effective from March 28, 2002. The combined disability evaluation of 40 percent for his service-connected disabilities remains proper. The increased ratings for PTSD and residuals of shrapnel wounds to the left leg are denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision, so the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and residuals of a circumcision, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine when the veteran's diabetes mellitus started and whether his National Guard service included qualifying active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's post-operative infections were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment. The infections were deemed reasonably foreseeable given his medical history and condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining his Social Security Administration records and readjudicating his claim based on all evidence of record.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus associated with herbicide exposure was denied as there is no evidence of actual exposure to herbicides during service and the condition is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and obstructive sleep apnea were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, GERD, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and prostate cancer, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show a link between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, which he claims was caused by exposure to herbicides during his military service. The RO has denied this claim previously and now requests additional information from the Social Security Administration and National Personnel Records Center.

The Board has determined that a VA medical review of the veteran's claims file and an opinion regarding his diabetes type and its contribution to his cause or causes of death is necessary.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to procedural defects in the VCAA notice and a lack of compliance with a previous Board remand.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and an increased rating for his fracture of the left tibia with shortening is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the type of diabetes and the severity of his disability.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension are being reviewed for service connection due to herbicide exposure. Further development is needed, including verification of Vietnam service and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hypertension.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chalazion and left knee disorder, as well as his claim for an initial disability rating greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus. The effective date of service connection is set at July 9, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred. The veteran did not serve in the Republic of Vietnam and there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus was denied. The RO granted a higher rating and effective date for his TDIU.