Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased initial disability ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected diabetes mellitus, and an increased initial disability rating for diabetic nephropathy were withdrawn in July 2014. The claims are therefore dismissed.

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

The Board has granted dependency and indemnity compensation based on the Veteran's service-connected diabetes as a contributory cause of his death from hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and related complications. The issue of TDIU after January 14, 2008 remains on appeal.

The Veteran's CAD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all found to be related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran's CAD is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and his other service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an expert medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed significantly to his death.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from the date service connection was awarded. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his diabetes requires only use of an oral hypoglycemic agent and a restricted diet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obesity, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type I, hypertension, lumbar spine strain, and right knee DJD are proximately due to his service-connected lower extremity disabilities.

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.