Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and may not be presumed to have been, including on account of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides or toxins in Vietnam, Thailand, or elsewhere.

The Veteran's death was caused by terminal renal failure, diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and hypertensive heart disease. These conditions are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening any of the Veteran's service connection claims, as it is either cumulative or redundant and does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of regular aid and attendance, with the exception of his diabetic neuropathy which does not require it.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, which he claims was caused by herbicide exposure during his military service in the Republic of Korea. The Board has ordered additional development to verify his alleged exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new VA examination. The claims will be reconsidered based on all evidence.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that no evidence prior to December 10, 2007, could be construed as a formal or informal claim.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities has been established, allowing him to receive special monthly pension.

The Veteran's diabetes requires insulin and a restricted diet, but does not require regulation of activities. She is therefore not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus was found to be a contributory cause of his death, and the Board granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found that the appellant's periods of AWOL following his tour in Vietnam were conducted under compelling circumstances, and thus did not constitute willful and persistent misconduct. As a result, the character of the appellant's active duty service does not constitute a bar to VA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of November 2004 for his award of service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, finding that there is no legal basis to grant such a claim.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for various service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its associated peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction, as well as tinnitus, were denied. The claim for a TDIU is also on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II, both of which were presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that the conditions were related to active service or to exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal for a separate, compensable rating for bilateral retinopathy associated with Type II Diabetes Mellitus was denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for bilateral open-angle glaucoma and consequent diabetic retinopathy is set at March 24, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus II and coronary artery disease, both related to herbicide exposure, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his military records and private medical history.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart murmur were denied as there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides or other presumed conditions in service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability manifested by a heart murmur.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 10 percent disabling under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The Board finds that his condition does not meet or more closely approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on additional complications, functional impact, or use of insulin.