Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type I and hypertension due to incomplete personnel records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain medical records. The issues are whether he should receive higher disability ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus warrants a 40 percent rating as of February 28, 2003, based on its requirements for insulin and restricted diet with regulation of activities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board finds that none of his service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 40 percent since April 8, 2010. Prior to that date, it was rated as 20 percent from July 18, 2001.,Her hypertension has been rated at 10 percent since July 18, 2001.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not require regulation of activities prior to January 11, 2009.,From January 11, 2009, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus required regulation of activities but did not meet criteria for episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from April 25, 2007. His peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent, also effective from September 25, 2010.

The Veteran's death prevented him from applying for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) benefits due to his service-connected ischemic heart disease. The claim is being remanded for further development, including a review of the Veteran's competence and obtaining VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was incurred in service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 rating was reduced from 40% to 20%, effective May 1, 2007. The Board has restored the 40% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and a need for VCAA notice. The main issue is whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including verification of asbestos exposure during service and evaluation of current respiratory conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for a back disability, left rotator cuff tear, and hypertension. The decision remains undecided on whether new and material evidence was received to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, as it does not show that service-connected diabetes mellitus caused the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying herbicide exposure in Korea. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Veteran is seeking a higher disability rating for diabetic retinopathy prior to August 25, 2010. The case has been remanded due to incomplete interpretation of visual field testing results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and associated conditions. The issues of entitlement to SMC based on loss of use of upper extremities, service connection for renal insufficiency and onychomycosis, and evaluation of peripheral neuropathy are also remanded.