Diabetes decisions — 2015

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Citrus Memorial Hospital on January 30, 2010 and January 31, 2010 are approved as he presented with symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath that were severe enough to be considered an emergency requiring immediate attention. The nearest VA facilities were not feasibly available, and the Veteran was not in receipt of service-connected compensation benefits for any disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no new evidence was provided to reopen the service connection claim for Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is service connected as due to herbicide exposure during his service in the inland waterways of Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities, prior to February 1, 2011, prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and award of DIC benefits is dismissed as her appeal was not timely filed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is reasonably shown to have been caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain all pertinent treatment records and to provide the Veteran with a VA examination for his claimed disabilities. The claims are being remanded.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a neurological condition in his right wrist, including carpal tunnel syndrome and peroneal nerve injury, which he believes are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The current examination reports do not adequately address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (depressive disorder and anxiety), thyroid disability, and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further development.,PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (depressive disorder and anxiety) are being remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiology. The claims for thyroid disability and diabetes mellitus are also being remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiology, with consideration of the Veteran's reported exposure to ionizing radiation during service.,PTSD is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology due to possible military sexual trauma. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (depressive disorder and anxiety) is also being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology.,The thyroid disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to the Veteran's service, including her reported exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The claim for diabetes mellitus is also being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issues of service connection are related to secondary herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, NOS with subclinical PTSD is rated at 70 percent and his TDIU claim is granted. Service connection for DM2 remains pending as the appeal does not address this issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on appeal were denied as his service-connected diabetic neuropathy did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating codes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II was initially manifested during his last period of active service and is attributable to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his residuals of a low back injury, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The decision is in favor of granting TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as he has not been diagnosed with the condition at any time during or prior to the pendency of his claim.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, notifying the Social Security Administration (SSA), and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing due to his request for one.

The Veteran is currently in receipt of SMC at the rate equal to subsection (m) based on the loss of use of both legs due to service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities with additional disability (service-connected bronchial asthma) independently ratable as 100 percent disabling from August 20, 2009. The Veteran's claims for higher levels of SMC under 38 C.F.R. � 3.350(f)(3) and 38 U.S.C.A. � 1114(o) have been denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.