Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service. The Board granted the claim on this basis.

The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity diabetic skin ulcers have not been clinically observed during the pendency of his claim, and symptoms affecting the skin of the left lower extremity are attributable to non-service-connected venous stasis ulcers. As a result, he is not entitled to a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claim for a total rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death in December 1999, finding no causal relationship between his service-connected conditions and his death. The appellant attempted to reopen the claim in September 2006 but was again denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active military service. Service connection for hypertension is also granted due to the Veteran's in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by his active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and granted service connection for this condition, as well as its secondary effects on peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral eye disorder (retinopathy, etc.), and kidney disorder (nephropathy).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining clinical documentation of his diabetes mellitus and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus do not warrant a higher evaluation, and the Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an appropriate VA examination and additional medical records. The issues of specially adapted housing and earlier effective date are pending.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service, and to provide a VA examination for his skin disorder. The diabetes mellitus claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is granted as secondary to his service in the Republic of Korea, where he was exposed to herbicide agents. The Board found that the evidence supports this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not serve in the Republic of Vietnam, and therefore, does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents. As a result, the claims for type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and hypertension are denied as they do not have direct service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his diabetes is secondary to in-service TB treatment with INH therapy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a gallbladder disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicides. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus on a direct and presumptive basis, finding no evidence of diabetes during or within one year after service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and the need to review the claim under a recent amendment to 38 C.F.R. § 3.307 regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The Board found that the Veteran had active service in Vietnam during the relevant time period and resolved reasonable doubt in his favor.