Diabetes decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with a VA examination to assess his diabetes mellitus. The issue of service connection for peripheral neuropathy will also be addressed.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred on September 12, 2005 is denied because the care rendered was not a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are not attributable to his active military service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The veteran's claim for secondary service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, a disorder of the left lower extremity, glaucoma, and bladder disorder is denied as there are no current diagnoses that support these claims.,The veteran's claim for secondary service connection for coronary artery disease (including hypertension) is denied as there is no evidence of such condition.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before this claim can be fully adjudicated.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes during service or for many years thereafter, and the veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, which became manifest in his first postservice year, is service-connected on a presumptive basis due to its chronic nature.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the veteran currently has a diagnosed disability of type II diabetes mellitus, which can be presumed based on his service in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for Type-II Diabetes Mellitus and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents or combat-related stressors during the appellant's service in Korea.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and low back disability, as well as his claim for TDIU based on these conditions, were denied by the Board. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found that the veteran does not have diabetic peripheral neuropathy and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and elevated liver enzymes, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions in service or a nexus to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the current evaluation of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 7913 accurately reflected the extent of his DM with early diabetic retinopathy, and thus a higher rating was not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II, which contributed to his death from a stroke, is service-connected due to its association with exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, and a higher initial rating for hypertension.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type I as there is no relationship shown by the evidence of record between his military service and his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, a facial scar, and fungal infection of the feet. The veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides in Vietnam, which supports his claim for type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, benign colon tumors, hypertension, and nerve damage involving the lower extremities due to a lack of evidence showing exposure to radiation during active service. The disabilities were not shown in service or within years following discharge.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, but granted secondary service connection for lid laxity related to the veteran's service-connected blepharitis.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, considering the impairment from the service-connected disability and his education and occupational experience.