Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and service connection for pancreas failure, renal failure (including as due to diabetes mellitus, type 2), hypertension (including as due to diabetes mellitus, type 2), and diabetes mellitus, type 2. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, renal cysts and/or lesions, to include incontinence, and diplopia were denied. The claim for increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred during active service or a period of ACDUTRA, and the Board denied service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking the onset of IDDM to service or within a year of discharge.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the case.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and thus the presumptive provisions for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease do not apply. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease on a secondary basis to the Veteran's pre-existing diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess his ability to function in most employment settings due to his service-connected disabilities, and for further development of the record.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for a hearing and his desire to withdraw all pending issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a VA psychiatric examination to assess the Veteran's PTSD. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension are being remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for additional examinations. The peripheral neuropathy claims will be considered as part of this process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other toxins that could have caused these conditions. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a link between any current disabilities and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete documentation and the need for additional examinations. The case will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure), and TDIU. The Board has not yet issued an SOC on the diabetes claim or referred the issue of extraschedular consideration for left ear hearing loss to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, fatigue (claimed as due to chronic fatigue syndrome or undiagnosed illness), respiratory disorder (claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness), depressive disorder, NOS, and diabetes mellitus. As such, these claims are granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was granted, with an effective date of September 22, 2009. The Veteran is now rated at 40% for the period beginning September 22, 2009 and ending April 5, 2010.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for a higher rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of both feet, and PTSD has been granted. The claims are presumed based on exposure to herbicides during service in Korea.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's disabilities are related to exposure to Agent Orange. The case is being remanded for this purpose.