Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. He also needs to be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the severity of his diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The Veteran's fatal conditions were not service-connected, and the Board found that none of his service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA records and affording the Veteran with a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus warrants a rating in excess of 20 percent, and this decision is granted.

The Veteran's cataracts, aphakia, and diabetic retinopathy are currently rated at 30 percent. His erectile dysfunction is not shown to warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA outpatient treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for bone disease and diabetes mellitus type II at his October 2011 hearing before the Board.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The Veteran died from cardiorespiratory arrest due to congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and arterial hypertension. His type II diabetes mellitus is a presumptive disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a DRO hearing, obtaining any relevant medical records, and arranging for a VA examination. The case will then be readjudicated.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new evidence does not establish a nexus between his current conditions and military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's pre-diabetes was not found to be a ratable disability and therefore not service-connected due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange. He also does not have a current Hepatitis B infection, so his claim for this condition is denied.,There is no indication of a chronic disability related to the Veteran's exposure to the Hepatitis B virus.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions that were caused or aggravated by her service, or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II was a contributory cause of his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in service and is not presumed due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam, nor were his symptoms related to any in-service event or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the petition to reopen his diabetes mellitus and leukemia claims was also denied. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in service or any other basis for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus is being remanded. Additionally, the claims for service connection of hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, and sleep apnea are also being remanded.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, and sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The skin disability claim is also being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that polycythemia vera and COPD were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they related to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability, and has therefore remanded the case for additional examination and readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is more likely related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, rather than being a separate condition incurred in service. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.