Diabetes decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records related to the veteran's psoriasis and diabetes mellitus. The veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, depression, a back disability, impaired sleeping, nightmares, and night sweats were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis and diabetes as secondary to his service-connected frostbite of the hands and feet. The VA examiner found no link between the veteran's frostbite and his current arthritis or diabetes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to June 2006, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his active service or service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that diabetes mellitus did not aggravate hypertension.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he alleges is due to herbicide exposure during his military service, was denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and no medical nexus linking the diabetes to his service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not causally related to his service-connected atopic dermatitis. The veteran's hearing loss and atopic dermatitis are not service connected.

The veteran seeks service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The case has been remanded due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations. The issues of special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ, initial rating in excess of 10 percent for Type II diabetes mellitus, and an initial compensable rating for hypertension are currently before the Board.

The veteran is granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, which he contends was caused by his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Board finds that the evidence supports this claim and grants secondary service connection for a disorder manifested by chest pain and a respiratory disorder.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The appellant argued that the veteran's death was related to his period of service, but the VA determined that there was no causal link between the conditions listed on the Certificate of Death and the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim. The heart disease issue is being remanded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that it is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for sciatic neuropathy and diabetes mellitus, as well as his claim for an increased rating for chronic cervical spine strain. The veteran's cervical spine disability was evaluated at a 20% rating based on its range of motion.

The veteran's service connection claim for Type II diabetes mellitus, due to exposure in Vietnam, is granted as he set foot in Vietnam and the statutory presumption of herbicide exposure applies.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure are being remanded for further development.

The veteran's medical expenses for a service-connected condition were not reimbursable by VA because prior authorization was not obtained and the treatment provided at a non-VA facility was deemed feasible.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are both granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II. The veteran did not have a verified in-service stressor or exposure to herbicides during his service in Korea. His diabetes was not shown to be related to service.