Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. Additional medical records are needed, including in-patient clinical records from May 1976 and VA treatment records since February 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and is not presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. The earliest clinical evidence of many of the claimed disabilities was many years after separation from service, and there has been no demonstration by competent medical or lay evidence of record that any of these conditions are causally related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and right eye diabetic retinopathy have been rated, but the Board finds that increased ratings are not warranted at any time during the period of this appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with cataracts and a separate compensable rating for bilateral lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, finding that his diabetes did not require regulation of activities and that his cataracts did not warrant a separate compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's diabetes was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, including as due to Agent Orange exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA negligence during a VA hospitalization, and the Board finds that his death does not meet the criteria for DIC pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, records review, and other development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination regarding regulation of activities and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus requires a VA examination to assess its severity, including any eye complications and peripheral neuropathy affecting his lower extremities.

The Veteran's death was caused by sepsis due to end stage renal failure and diabetes mellitus. The appellant claims the cause of death is service-related, specifically alleging exposure to herbicides in Vietnam contributed to her husband's type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims regarding cellulitis, earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus, reopening of hypertension claim, diabetic retinopathy, and right foot disability are dismissed. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for diabetes mellitus is granted with a 20% rating. The initial ratings for cataracts and CVA remain at noncompensable until February 18, 2005, and 10%, respectively.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of his delimiting date beyond August 8, 2010, for receipt of educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is being remanded due to a lack of medical evidence supporting the need for such an extension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and confirming his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a local hearing before a Decision Review Officer and clarification on whether he wants a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cataracts and increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities. The decision did not provide a rationale for these determinations.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, which he claims were caused by a VA-prescribed medication (Olanzapine). The Board has ordered additional development to determine if informed consent was properly obtained and whether the medications resulted in the Veteran's current conditions.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in Korea and denied service connection for both Type II diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to July 5, 2011 did not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, renal cell carcinoma, and colon polyps due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not presented.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and adjudicative action due to insufficient competent medical evidence of record to make a decision on the claim for service connection for a stomach disorder, to include chronic diarrhea. A VA examination with medical nexus opinion is needed.