Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Board denied service connection for an eye disability, a heart disability, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's keratoconus was found to have pre-existed service and not been aggravated during service.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic diabetes mellitus. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for arterial hypertension and service connection for chronic erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, is currently evaluated at 20 percent and the evidence does not demonstrate that it requires insulin or a restricted diet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetic nephropathy and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of hepatitis. However, after reviewing all available evidence, including VA treatment records, private medical records, and the Veteran's statements, the Board finds that none of the conditions claimed are related to active service or can be presumed due to exposure to certain hazards. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, coupled with his educational background and work experience, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and therefore denied claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus and eye disability (rubeosis irides of the left eye) are presumed to be related to his military service. The claim for hypertension is granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his tinnitus, left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and nephropathy are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with evidentiary development procedures for claims involving exposure to herbicides outside Vietnam, Thailand, or Korea. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and a skin condition, both presumed to be due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's claims were based on presumptive service connection criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in an employment handicap, and therefore she is not eligible for vocational rehabilitation under Chapter 31 of Title 38 U.S.C.A.

The Veteran's condition deteriorated significantly after August 9, 2007, and VA facilities were not feasibly available for transfer. The medical care provided from August 10 to August 29 was deemed unnecessary due to the deterioration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected, while his initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not related to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated as 10 percent disabling.,The Veteran's diabetic ulcers of the right and left feet do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for a disability manifested by nightmares of war is dismissed as his claim was granted in full. The remaining issues previously treated as withdrawn are addressed, including chronic fatigue syndrome, joint pain, ALS, and muscle pain.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides during service. The Veteran served in Thailand and claims he was exposed on a Pan Am flight, but no records confirm this route.

The Veteran's appeal for a total evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is being remanded for further development, including an examination to assess his employability given his multiple service-connected disabilities.