Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to exposure to Agent Orange during military service in the Republic of Vietnam. The claims for cataracts and impotence, as well as whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and basal cell carcinoma due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's bilateral diabetic macular edema was evaluated at a 30 percent rating prior to January 5, 2011 and at a 40 percent rating from that date forward. The Board found the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board found that the cause of death was not service-connected, as none of the listed conditions were shown to be related to military service or pre-service conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and it may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional information from the National Archives regarding his alleged exposure to chemical dioxins and potential service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the loss of use of his feet, warranting eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction should be May 31, 2007.

The Veteran's hypertension has not been manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more since December 23, 2005.,Type 2 diabetes was not incurred or aggravated during active military service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection for type 2 diabetes is denied.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that any right knee disability is related to active military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, with blurred vision, headaches, and body weakness. The Veteran's claim was previously denied due to a lack of evidence establishing service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, presumed due to exposure to herbicides during service. The issue of service connection for a visual disorder secondary to the service-connected diabetes is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Naples Community Hospital on November 17, 2007 are not eligible for payment or reimbursement because VA facilities were reasonably available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been reasonable, sound, wise, or practicable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying herbicide exposure and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the feet.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as his claim for a TDIU based on these conditions, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus was denied. The current rating of 20 percent is maintained as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or eye disability (glaucoma and retinopathy) attributable to his period of active service, including exposure to herbicides. The claims were denied.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for a respiratory condition. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and gout, both secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine condition, have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus did not require a regulation of activities at any time during the appeal period, and thus does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it did not manifest during his period of active service or within one year after discharge, and there is no evidence linking the condition to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.