Diabetes decisions — 2005

The Board denied the application to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the additional evidence submitted since October 1990 does not show a medical nexus between the current findings of diabetes mellitus and the appellant's service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II and a psychiatric disability, to include depression and PTSD, secondary to his diabetes mellitus, Type II.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus with osteomyelitis is being remanded due to the need for a VA medical examination and opinion.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus. The issue of entitlement to service connection for mitral valve prolapse is addressed in the REMAND portion and is REMANDED to the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the issue of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, including obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service medical records and incomplete information from Social Security Administration.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by active service, and may not be presumed to be due to service including as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient evidence regarding stressors claimed by the veteran. The VBA AMC must attempt to obtain additional service personnel records or other documentation that would support the veteran's accounts of his experiences in Vietnam.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is not manifested by the need for regulation of activities, and therefore does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. §1318 were not met.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, irritable bowel syndrome, and sinusitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder due to asbestos exposure, diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide exposure, and Bell's palsy as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and special monthly compensation were denied as the earliest date of claim was January 14, 1993.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and did not address the PTSD claim. The veteran's diabetes was diagnosed approximately 18 years after service, and there is no evidence linking it to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes, hypertension, and end-stage renal disease did not develop during his active service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy and pancreatitis, as well as his requests for service connection for a psychological condition secondary to service-connected pancreatitis and memory problems and fatigue secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the validity of the appellant's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and the cause of death. The appellant must provide evidence showing exposure to herbicides or other toxic agents in drinking water on board ships, if such exposure occurred.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected Legg-Perthe's disease of right hip, and there is no evidence of a nexus between any other condition listed on his death certificate (including diabetes) and his military service. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that his service on a destroyer off the coast of Vietnam did not constitute 'service in the Republic of Vietnam' as defined by VA regulations. As such, he was not entitled to the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents used in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for Type II diabetes mellitus should be remanded to allow further development, including verification of exposure to herbicides while stationed in Korea.