Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, effective from September 26, 2005.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient information regarding herbicide exposure. The Veteran served in Thailand and was stationed at Udorn RTAFB, which is considered a Vietnam Era base.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and additional information is needed from various sources. The Veteran's exposure history, including potential Agent Orange exposure, will be investigated further.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, increased ratings for various disabilities, and entitlement to automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment. The issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his renal carcinoma and assessing the severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension as a result of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus is granted due to the presumption of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability and therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied. The issue of diabetes mellitus, type II remains pending.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is denied as there is no probative evidence suggesting a relationship between the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent from July 5, 2007. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date or a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities and whether they are related to service, including exposure to radiation in service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II, is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claim for labile blood pressure/hypertension was reopened and remains pending.

The Veteran is granted a separate 40 percent rating for urinary frequency secondary to diabetes mellitus, effective from the date of the decision. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of a disability rating greater than 20 percent for service-connected insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and a VA examination. The remaining issues on appeal will be addressed after these matters have been resolved.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, strokes, diabetic cystopathy (claimed as bladder dysfunction), peripheral vascular disease, and depression have not been decided.,Service connection has also been denied for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea claims are being remanded for further development. The left shoulder disability, dyshidrosis, chest pain, chronic bronchitis, and chronic headaches claims are also being remanded due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating.,Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left feet are each rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that they do not warrant increased ratings as the symptoms are no more than moderate in degree.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims. The Veteran was also denied entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and ischemic heart disease.