Diabetes decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with VCAA notice requirements and for further development.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further verification of his periods of active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his naval service and was first manifested many years after separation from active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and the residuals of frostbite. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service or any herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to new and material evidence provided by the veteran, including his statements and testimony regarding symptoms in service and during separation examination. The claim is granted.

The veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including respiratory disorders, sleep apnea, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, benign prostatic hypertrophy, depression, PTSD, poor circulation in the left leg, and diabetes mellitus, all allegedly due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board has ordered additional development of his claims.

The Board has determined that the appellant's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound, as her conditions are not severe enough to require regular assistance or confinement.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for service-connected diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetic retinopathy are being remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional development.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective July 9, 2001. The condition requires dietary restrictions and insulin but does not require regulation of activities.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, secondary to Agent Orange exposure in service, should be September 3, 1987.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus Type II.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has received notification of the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal, and thus the case is dismissed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus have all been denied. The VA has not provided evidence of a current disability or established that the conditions are related to service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to consider his claim for a higher disability rating and an earlier effective date for service connection due to diabetes mellitus, which was initially diagnosed in July 1988. The RO must obtain medical records from the Concord Family Health Practice and review the revised criteria for evaluating diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's reactive airway disease is rated at 30 percent, and he has been granted service connection for a small patent foramen ovale. Other claims of service connection are denied.