Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's alleged exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Thailand and Vietnam, including obtaining unit history records from the United States Marine Corps.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and secondary service connection for a back disorder due to the left knee disability. However, it granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus due to the left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and the claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver due to VA treatment with nefazodone (Serzone). The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim of reopening his service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to a scheduling issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 with peripheral neuropathy was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or aggravated during service and is not presumed to have been so incurred due to his exposure to Agent Orange. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus being incurred in or aggravated by service, including exposure to herbicides. Service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records, and considering an extraschedular rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities and further information about his current financial status.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support service connection for diabetes mellitus on a direct or presumptive basis, as the Veteran did not serve in the Republic of Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if any service-connected condition contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hypertension, and loss of use of a creative organ are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on housebound status was denied as he does not meet the criteria of having a single permanent disability rated 100% disabling under the Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy of the eyes is currently rated at 10 percent. The RO has assigned a new VA examination to determine if his condition warrants an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not manifested within one year of his separation from service, and therefore does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination report. The case must be returned for a new examination and an opinion regarding whether the condition first had its onset during active duty or within one year post-service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and sinusitis, as well as his increased rating claim for tinnitus. The Veteran is not shown to have these conditions attributable to his period of active service.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy in his upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining investigative reports and medical records.