Diabetes decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam and the disease did not manifest during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and denied the claim for DIC benefits based on cause of death.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that his active duty included service in Vietnam and thus he was presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. The decision also noted that the Veteran served on a ship off the coast of Vietnam during this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being reopened, but the evidence does not conclusively establish exposure to herbicides. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 29, 2008. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes, are not shown to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for DIC benefits as the July 1986 rating decision denying service connection for the cause of death was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and no earlier claims were found.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for PTSD and a bilateral shoulder disability, finding new and material evidence. The claim for service connection of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and peripheral arterial disease was improperly severed.

The Board found no evidence of the Veteran's stopover in Vietnam and thus denied his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation requires use of insulin, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities. Additional development is needed to determine if these requirements are met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a more recent VA examination and proper notice under Vazquez-Flores v. Peake.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that a timely notice of disagreement was filed regarding the July 2003 decision denying service connection for diabetes mellitus and related coronary artery disease, impotence, and skin rash. The case is being remanded to reassess the issues and obtain additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the reduction from a 40 percent to a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus was proper and warranted by the evidence of record.

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that a new VA examination and additional medical records are needed to properly assess the current level of disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and cataracts as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.