Diabetes decisions — 2006

The Board found that the immediate and contributory causes of the veteran's death were not service-connected conditions, and thus denied claims for service connection for the cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the veteran's employability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to December 10, 2003 and 40 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, warranting secondary service connection.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher initial evaluations for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were granted. The effective date remains November 5, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a left knee disability, as well as his claim for an increased rating for right knee chondromalacia. The effective date for the assignment of a 10% evaluation for right knee chondromalacia was not changed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, finding no evidence of in-service exposure and insufficient medical evidence linking current diabetes to service.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as presumptively service-connected due to exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee, a right knee disorder, and major depression, are not related to his service-connected low back disability. Therefore, these claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for diabetes mellitus type II or hypertension. The claims are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy, finding that the veteran's conditions are due to herbicide exposure in service. Service connection for coronary artery disease is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an eye condition and a bilateral foot disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and peripheral vascular disease were denied as these conditions did not develop due to inservice exposure to herbicides or military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's diabetes, which was related to herbicide exposure during his service in Vietnam, contributed to or accelerated his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current severity of the veteran's service-connected psychophysiologic cardiac reaction and need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and further review.

The veteran is granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide exposure based on his receipt of the Vietnam Service Medal.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities and diabetes mellitus, finding that these conditions are not causally related to or aggravated by the veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure with renal insufficiency, and AICD placement.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, may be presumed to have been incurred in active service due to exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam-era service. As a result, the appeal is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claims for superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp and basal cell carcinoma on the face, finding that his service-connected condition did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or new rating criteria.