Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's peripheral edema due to venous insufficiency and diabetic nephropathy are found to be caused by or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claim as there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides in Korea.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his service-connected disabilities and whether he meets the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance, acquiring specially adapted housing, or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining deck logs and private treatment records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy are pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and heart condition were not incurred in or aggravated by service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical strain, bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis. The Veteran was granted service connection for depression, Type II diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease, osteoarthritis of the left knee and right knee, but his initial ratings were assigned at 10%, 20%, 0% and 0% respectively.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a heart disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a possible link to service. Service connection was denied for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure as there is no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, diabetes mellitus and neurogenic bladder, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, as the submitted evidence is cumulative or redundant.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, left foot pes planus with plantar callus, and bilateral hearing loss are all granted. The Veteran had preexisting left foot pes planus that was aggravated by service, and his current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete information and records, including a need for clarification on exposure to toxins while in Germany, obtaining SSA records, and updating VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the appellant's diabetes mellitus did not begin during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and type II diabetes mellitus were granted. The Veteran was awarded staged higher initial ratings for PTSD and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities effective from April 26, 2013.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to cardiovascular and respiratory failure, with hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, and gastrointestinal tract bleeding as contributing factors. The Board finds a need for additional medical opinion regarding the relationship between in-service gastrointestinal complaints and the Veteran's gastrointestinal tract bleeding.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Jackson RO for scheduling a Travel Board or videoconference hearing. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and low back disability, as well as increased ratings for various surgeries and fractures, are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to decide the claim on a secondary basis, and further development is required.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with nephritis, was rated at 20 percent prior to April 10, 2012, and has not required regulation of activities since then. The claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus has not manifested by regulation of activities, which is required for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has been rated at 40 percent since May 13, 2008. The rating is granted as the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7913.