Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of nerve damage, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and in-country service, which may impact his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus contributed substantially to his death, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing the issue of entitlement to an effective date earlier than September 21, 2009, for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1114(s).

The Veteran's bilateral diabetic retinopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that his condition does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred due to active service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to active service. The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam, and thus could not be presumed exposed to herbicides such as Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple traumatic injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident, not related to his service-connected conditions. The Board found that diabetes mellitus did not contribute substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of his appeal for the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, with early neuropathy, cortical cataracts and nephropathy and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Board denied reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disorders, a left shoulder disorder, bronchitis, cardiac (heart) disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during the Vietnam Era.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and cirrhosis of the liver could not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claims, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease and whether he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetic neuropathy of both lower extremities is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for this evaluation.

The Veteran is entitled to a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, but not for a home adaptation grant as he is already eligible for the former.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of malaria and finds new and material evidence to support this claim. The Veteran's claim for service connection for borderline diabetes mellitus remains denied as there is no current disability found.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and glaucoma. The claim is being remanded to obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's bilateral glaucoma with diabetic retinopathy was rated at 50 percent effective April 21, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran served in Vietnam and is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during his service. Therefore, diabetes mellitus is granted as due to exposure to herbicides.