Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicides in Thailand and whether he had a layover in Vietnam enroute from San Francisco.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but denied service connection for obesity. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are not considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, lumbar strain, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hypertension, and sciatic radiculopathy, require him to use a wheelchair for mobility. As such, he is eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating, and referral for extraschedular consideration is not warranted.

The Veteran's diabetes has been rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current symptomatology.

The Board found that the Veteran's arteriosclerotic vascular disease with aortic valve replacement is not related to his service, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and a heart disability. The appeal is not about exposure to herbicides or other presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently evaluated at a 20 percent rating, which requires insulin and a restricted diet.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, claimed as due to exposure to herbicides, has been remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals for further development. The issue is currently under review.

The Veteran's death was caused by a cerebral herniation due to cerebral edema, which was found to be related to hypertension and diabetes mellitus, both presumed to be caused by his in-service herbicide exposure. The Board determined that the service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and therefore, does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, associated peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining outstanding VA outpatient records and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied in April 2005, and the RO found that he did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU at any time prior to August 2, 2007. The effective date of the denial is therefore August 2, 2007.

The Veteran's initial ratings for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, which manifested within a year of his discharge from active service in the Merchant Marines, contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining information about vaccines administered in January 1991 and an etiological opinion regarding diabetes mellitus, type I.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claim.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the claims for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1310 and accrued benefits were denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's vision disability, diagnosed as diabetic retinopathy, is causally related to his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus (DM). Therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for a vision disability including as secondary to DM is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and verify his military service. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine if he has a current respiratory disability related to his in-service pneumonia, and whether his current diabetes mellitus may have been caused or aggravated by obesity during service.