Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further development of evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, as well as for a determination on whether he was exposed to such agents. The appellant contends that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides due to refueling aircraft returning from Vietnam.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as his ACDUTRA service did not qualify him for the ALS presumption. The Board denied entitlement to service connection for cause of death.

The Board has combined the Veteran's spinal service connection claims as one for service connection for disability of the thoracolumbar spine. Further development is needed to determine if any current thoracic spine disability, diabetes, sinusitis, or varicose vein disability is related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted, and he is now considered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, gastroparesis, and cataracts.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 80 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination reports and additional development is required.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was managed with insulin and a restricted diet but did not require regulation of activities or hospitalization. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus, Type II was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition required regulation of activities to treat it.

The Veteran's hip disability, type II diabetes mellitus (DMII), lung disability, sinus disability, and nasal polyps are all found to be related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn, and the claim is dismissed.

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.