Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the current medical evidence is insufficient to decide whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam and providing VCAA notice.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration, including obtaining an opinion regarding the etiology of his chronic cholecystitis, acalculus. The diabetes mellitus claim is inextricably intertwined with this gastrointestinal claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and his service-connected Ross River virus. The Veteran is also required to provide additional evidence of treatment for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a clarification of the extent of his psychological, social, and occupational functioning due to PTSD and depression related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's attempts to establish service connection for various conditions were generally denied by the RO, with some exceptions regarding reopening of a claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and continued denial of others. The Board noted that new evidence had been received to reopen this specific claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his active service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with associated erectile dysfunction and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is rated at 40 percent since October 30, 2008. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus, prostate disability, kidney disease, bilateral ankle degenerative joint disease, or bone spurs as a result of his active service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type 2, with mild non-proliferative retinopathy of the left eye was granted. The effective date is set at November 20, 2005.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is not service-connected, and his hypertension does not warrant an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for vision problems (eye disability) was denied as there is no evidence that the current eye disability is related to his military service or diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and colon cancer.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of Type II Diabetes Mellitus is denied as his claim was filed more than a year after the effective date of the liberalizing legislation.

The Veteran's tinnitus, diabetes mellitus (secondary to service-connected left knee disability), and right knee disability are all granted as direct service connection. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and issues related to service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and determination of whether his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current conditions and active duty service. The Veteran did not provide sufficient credible evidence to establish in-service exposure to herbicides or other stressors.