Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection, effective dates, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to potential exposure to herbicides during service, and the claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and an eye condition are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions related to the claimed disabilities during or after service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been rated as 10 percent since November 8, 2002 and increased to 20 percent effective April 20, 2006. The right elbow hemarthrosis was initially granted a 10 percent evaluation in February 2006 and remains at that level.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease, which manifested during service and caused his death, was incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his diabetes mellitus disability and associated complications. Additionally, he must be provided with a Statement of the Case regarding service connection for an antiplatelet condition (swollen legs) and erectile dysfunction.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The February 2004 rating decision denying this claim is final.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions have been completed.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, claiming it is related to his alleged exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The Board has ordered additional development including a request to the JSRRC and a request for information from the appellant regarding his claimed exposure.

The Board found no evidence of actual or presumptive exposure to herbicides in service, and thus the presumption of service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide exposure does not apply. The Veteran's claim is denied because there is no medical evidence showing a current disability was incurred during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the relationship between his claimed conditions and service. The claim will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claims of headaches and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board also found that his service-connected disability did not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran sustained additional disability in the form of amputation of his right great toe as a result of an error of judgment on the part of VA providers in failing to provide appropriate treatment for his right great toe wound starting in February 2007.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and the RO must review this evidence before making a decision on the claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 60 percent, effective May 19, 2010. The rating was increased based on the need for insulin and restricted diet due to episodes of hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations a year.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure is being remanded as the VA medical examination report and private medical records are unclear regarding whether the Veteran currently has diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension as secondary to Type II diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's service in Korea.

The Veteran claims service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, which he believes is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during his Navy service in Vietnam. The Board remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the ships he served on docked at Vietnamese ports and thus provided sufficient exposure.