Diabetes decisions — 2005

The Board denied the appellant's claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that the veteran's death was not due to additional disability resulting from VA treatment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a rectal mass as secondary to radiation exposure due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's death was caused by hypostatic pneumonia, due to cerebrovascular accident and diabetes mellitus. The Board denied service connection for cause of death as there is no evidence linking the disabilities listed on his death certificate to his period of active service. The claim for accrued benefits was also denied because it was received more than one year after the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 30, 2000, for assignment of a total disability based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluation of diabetes mellitus, service connection for peripheral vascular disease as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, and service connection for hypertension. The claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records from the VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, Florida, and arranging for a dental, orthopedic, and liver/examination of the veteran.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was granted a rating of 10 percent prior to March 28, 1994. The issues of service connection for PTSD and chronic fatigue syndrome remain pending.

The Board is requesting additional development to determine the cause of death and whether the veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was not manifested in service or the first post-service year, and there is no competent evidence relating it to service. The Board denied service connection as direct and due to herbicide exposure because of lack of evidence of herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service and is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability or disease incurred in line of duty during active military service. The appellant did not meet the criteria for payment of VA burial benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking his current diagnosis to his military service or to any exposure to herbicides. The Board concluded that the veteran did not have 'service in the Republic of Vietnam' as defined by VA regulations and thus could not be granted presumptive service connection.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was initially treated with a restricted diet and oral medication (glyburide) without the need for insulin or hospitalization. The claim is denied as there is no evidence of any higher evaluations being warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service in Vietnam is presumed, and therefore his diabetes mellitus associated with herbicide exposure during service is granted.

The case has been remanded for further development of the veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and verifying his alleged shore duty in Vietnam.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation of his type II diabetes mellitus, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incorrect service dates and needs to provide proper post-VCAA notification.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the October 2001 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's application to reopen his service connection claims for hemorrhoids, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, a condition manifested by a swollen liver, and a condition manifested by swelling of the legs.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, finding that his symptoms and complaints do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by service and could not be presumed due to herbicide exposure.