Diabetes decisions — 2009

The Board found no evidence to support the claim that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and thus denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to his death from pancreatic cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus and service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VCAA notification and additional development is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus and heart disorder are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Veteran died in January 2005 due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. The VA medical opinion found that the service-connected diabetes mellitus was a contributing factor in his death, warranting service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, lumbar spine disability, and lower extremity disability. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and secondary service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is currently managed with insulin and a restricted diet. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher initial evaluation have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus with headaches, impaired vision and boils is denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for peripheral vascular disease from August 5, 1985 to January 12, 1998 is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and a renal disorder was denied. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and concluded that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his military service. The claim for a renal disorder was previously denied without reopening due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a bilateral hand tremor have been denied as there is no current objective evidence of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right anterior lower leg did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to his death. The conditions causing death (left temporo-parieto-occipital CVA, left lower lobe pneumonia atelectasis, and diabetes mellitus) were not shown to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and specifically ruled out diabetes mellitus as contributing to his death. The primary cause of death was throat cancer.

The VA denied the appellant's request for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or as a result of being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities. The appellant has a combined rating percentage of 100 percent, with one condition rated at 100 percent (post-traumatic stress disorder) and another condition rated at 20 percent (Type 2 diabetes mellitus with bilateral cataracts).

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance was granted effective October 14, 2002 due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for all issues prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that it was presumptively incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.