Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and residuals of multiple cerebrovascular accidents are being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in active service due to exposure to herbicides during his service in Korea.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during service, and for further review of alternative forms of evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an incomplete search of morning reports and unit rosters, as well as other records. The Veteran is asked to provide specific information about his unit assignment while in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify if he set foot in Vietnam during his active duty.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including obtaining information about his exposure to Agent Orange and any pre-existing back injury. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling VA examinations, and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, requiring insulin and a restricted diet, warrants a 40 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current right leg and back disabilities to his active service, including any herbicide exposure. The claims were denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's claimed diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities. The case is therefore being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted, with a disability rating of 20% for the cervical spine condition. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the hands (CTS), secondary to diabetes mellitus, type 2. The Veteran's testimony at his May 2012 hearing indicates he currently has this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicides, and finds that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a finding that he was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand. As such, the claim will be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a temporary total convalescence rating pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 following his April 15, 2009 right second toe amputation due to lack of severe post-operative residuals.

The Veteran's death was caused by terminal colon cancer with metastasis, but the service-connected diabetes and neuropathy are not considered to be the immediate or underlying cause of his death. The Board is remanding this case for further development.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than June 12, 2008 for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy were denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to that date.