Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from various sources and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence, including a questionable military retirement examination report that may have been altered. The Veteran's service connection claim for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy is being reviewed again with additional efforts to obtain missing STRs and a VA medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, including as due to herbicide exposure in Korea. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, which is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicides in service, is granted as service connected. The secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying periods of active duty and inactive duty training, obtaining medical records from SSA, and providing updated opinions regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's current disabilities to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected, either on a direct basis or as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims for hypertension and diabetic eye disability are pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board finds that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the right upper extremity and/or the right foot due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions, including PTSD with dysthymic disorder, dumping syndrome, and other disabilities. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection applications for right hip disability, left hip disability, bilateral knee disability, residuals of cold injury (feet), and diabetes mellitus. The appeal is based on new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence received by the Veteran, and the RO is instructed to consider this new evidence in its adjudication of the claims.

The Board has determined that the claimant's service connection claims are inextricably intertwined with his diabetes mellitus claim. Therefore, all issues related to secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction, depression, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and diabetic retinopathy will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions regarding whether VA treatment caused or contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and remanded the underlying claim for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's PTSD claim is granted, while the diabetes mellitus claim requires further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted due to his service-connected disabilities making him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are currently rated at 20 percent each, effective February 28, 2002. The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, effective April 12, 2004.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be due to his in-service exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.