Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the increased rating claim. The issue of an initial rating higher than 30 percent for prostatitis, effective December 15, 2003, and higher than 40 percent, effective August 9, 2006, is also dismissed.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for obtaining additional medical records and readjudicating the claim. The Veteran's request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) is also pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for type II diabetes mellitus is granted as the condition is presumed due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed due to exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is permanently aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease and/or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes is granted as it may be presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability rating, TDIU, and special adapted housing have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. Additionally, claims for service connection for bronchitis and sinusitis, a skin disorder (actinic keratosis), and right knee and back disorders secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2 are referred to the RO.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, vision impairment, and neurological disorders. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and updated treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of Type II diabetes mellitus should be December 18, 2005, based on the liberalizing law and regulations regarding presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy with kidney failure requiring renal dialysis, diabetic retinopathy of the eyes, and diabetic neuropathy. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or caused by his military service, and denied his claim.

The Veteran's blindness in the right eye was not caused by VA medical treatment, and there is no evidence of negligence or lack of proper skill on the part of VA. The Veteran had pre-existing diabetic retinopathy that worsened due to his diabetes.

The Board found that the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous and upheld the severance of the award.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the presumption of herbicide exposure does not apply due to his service on a ship off the shore of Vietnam. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure at the Veteran's assigned duty stations and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure as not related to his military service.