Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during his tour in Panama.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus with end stage renal disease, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic gastroparesis, and coronary artery disease was denied because there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues not being considered on all bases for service connection, including direct and secondary.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicides, is denied. The Board found no evidence of the Veteran setting foot on land in Vietnam or being exposed to herbicides during his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is service-connected. The initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus, type II with associated complications (nephropathy and peripheral neuropathy) remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development of his case.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 10 percent prior to January 7, 2005 and increased to 20 percent from that date.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as arteriosclerosis, with diabetes mellitus type II contributing significantly but not directly to his death. The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have a combined rating of 90 percent, with at least one disability rated 40 percent or more. The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's disabilities do not permanently prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and therefore, he is not entitled to non-service-connected pension benefits.

The Board has granted apportionment of the Veteran's compensation benefits on behalf of his dependent parent and also determined that the appellant's apportionment is subject to recoupment due to the receipt of disability severance pay.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The claims for diabetes mellitus and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were reopened due to new evidence but no specific rating or effective date was assigned as they are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his combined rating of 60 percent. However, the Board found that there is no evidence demonstrating he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy) are being remanded for further development to determine if they alone preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his period of service in Thailand and the disease did not develop within a year after discharge. The Board found that the Veteran served in Thailand but not Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's bipolar disorder is found to be related to his military service, while his diabetes mellitus is not shown to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new VA examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II is related to his military service and has been granted. The issues of back disorder and PTSD are remanded for further development.