Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling VA examinations, and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, requiring insulin and a restricted diet, warrants a 40 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current right leg and back disabilities to his active service, including any herbicide exposure. The claims were denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's claimed diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities. The case is therefore being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted, with a disability rating of 20% for the cervical spine condition. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the hands (CTS), secondary to diabetes mellitus, type 2. The Veteran's testimony at his May 2012 hearing indicates he currently has this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicides, and finds that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a finding that he was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand. As such, the claim will be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a temporary total convalescence rating pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 following his April 15, 2009 right second toe amputation due to lack of severe post-operative residuals.

The Veteran's death was caused by terminal colon cancer with metastasis, but the service-connected diabetes and neuropathy are not considered to be the immediate or underlying cause of his death. The Board is remanding this case for further development.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than June 12, 2008 for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy were denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to that date.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims for skin rash, hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease/coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder, liver disorder, and vision disorder. The Veteran's service connection claims were denied as there is no medical evidence demonstrating these conditions were incurred during active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim of secondary service connection for hypertension was legally insufficient as there is no evidence linking it to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including type II diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis, and a right knee disorder.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at St. Elizabeth Medical Center were denied reimbursement due to his voluntary election for private insurance to cover the costs, which precluded VA from paying any insurance balances.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy has been granted, but the specific details of the decision are not provided in this text.