Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for Type-II diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during military service is linked to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The claims will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for leukemia and diabetes mellitus type II, finding no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve on active duty during a period of war, thus denying his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral glaucoma, hypertension, and heart disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II are denied due to lack of legal merit. The Veteran did not serve in the Republic of Vietnam and is not entitled to a presumption of exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection are related to his active duty service or incidents therein.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his disabilities, particularly those related to vision impairment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need to locate and associate VA medical records from two specific facilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus was denied by the Board. The evidence did not show that the diabetes required regulation of activities, which is necessary to warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for SMP based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his physical limitations.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and denied the Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was diagnosed prior to his second period of service and is presumed to have existed before service. The Board also determined that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence showing that the condition worsened during or as a result of service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to herbicide exposure. Service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's increased evaluation claim for coronary artery disease was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied as the service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and renal insufficiency status post left nephrectomy are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is related to his military service, including any potential Agent Orange exposure. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private medical facility on July 12-13, 2005 due to lack of evidence showing an ongoing emergency and because VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.