Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition. His service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis did not play a material causal role in his death, and pneumonia did not contribute to it either.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for hypertension secondary to service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus, type II due to incomplete development of his claims file. The AMC/RO must obtain additional treatment records from VA Outpatient Clinic in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, and VA Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and request a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II claimed as secondary to the service connected hypertension. The case is being remanded for issuance of a SOC regarding the issue of entitlement to a separate evaluation for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including compliance with VA procedures for handling exposure claims outside Vietnam, and a new VA examination.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II to his military service or exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus with cataracts, malaria, scrub typhus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Veteran is seeking special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities. However, the VA needs to provide an adequate opinion regarding whether he is in need of regular aid and attendance from another person.

The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy is manifested by normal kidney function and noncompensable hypertension. The Board finds that the criteria for a separate initial compensable rating are not met.

The Veteran's case is being remanded due to her failure to appear at a scheduled videoconference hearing. The issues of increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II; service connection for stress disorder; and reopening the claim for tinnitus disability are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a Board hearing and additional development.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy, maculopathy, and cataracts have been rated as 10 percent disabling since July 8, 2009. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating based on visual acuity or visual field loss.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not present on the effective date of the liberalizing law (May 8, 2001), and thus he is not entitled to an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further clarification regarding the Veteran's periods of service, including his claimed reserve service. The claim will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is found to be the cause of his stroke and its residual symptoms. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or related to his service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis. The Board found that the cause of death was multi-organ failure due to diabetes mellitus, and other significant conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease did not contribute substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with nephropathy is currently rated at 20 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated outpatient treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if hypertension is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's hypertension is related to his active duty, while the evidence does not support a finding that his diabetes mellitus had its onset in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as he did not have any such condition at the time of his death. The cause of death is attributed to diabetes mellitus and heart disease, which are not related to service.