Diabetes decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, and skin disorders, all claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his active service or to herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, as evidenced by medical records showing no significant exacerbation of PTSD just prior to his death and no mention of PTSD as a contributing factor to his deteriorating cardiovascular situation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim can be decided. This includes notifying the Veteran of what evidence would substantiate his claims for increased evaluation, obtaining updated VA outpatient treatment records from April 2005 onwards, and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting evidence about the severity of the Veteran's diabetes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, hypertension secondary to PTSD and diabetes mellitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to PTSD.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to his non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication, including providing VCAA notice regarding DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, clarifying whether the Veteran's service-connected back disability contributed to his death, and developing evidence related to the cause of death.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and determined that an effective date of May 7, 2001, was appropriate for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service, including as a result of inservice exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.310(a).

The Board found that the claimed disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, back conditions, groin injury residuals, right hip disability, and schizophrenia, were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred as a result of service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus does not require regulation of his activities, and therefore a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to review the Veteran's diabetes mellitus claims due to incomplete medical records and an examiner not having reviewed all relevant documents.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran also contends that he requires regulation of activities due to his diabetes.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus was clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to a lack of evidence of an allergy to steroids. As such, the veteran's claims are being severed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, and the claimed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not shown during service or for the first year thereafter, and there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to service. As a result, service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his right shoulder injury, Type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The decision found that new evidence submitted since the previous denial did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim for a right shoulder disability secondary to a wrist disability. Service connection was denied as there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The evidence does not support a finding that the hypertension is related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed due to his death.