Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for a back disability, left rotator cuff tear, and hypertension. The decision remains undecided on whether new and material evidence was received to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, as it does not show that service-connected diabetes mellitus caused the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining service personnel records and verifying herbicide exposure in Korea. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Veteran is seeking a higher disability rating for diabetic retinopathy prior to August 25, 2010. The case has been remanded due to incomplete interpretation of visual field testing results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and associated conditions. The issues of entitlement to SMC based on loss of use of upper extremities, service connection for renal insufficiency and onychomycosis, and evaluation of peripheral neuropathy are also remanded.

The Veteran's right below-the-knee amputation was not shown to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus at the time of his death, and thus he is not entitled to accrued benefits for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides used in Thailand. The Board also found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the current diabetes mellitus to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and effective dates have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in the Philippines and his diabetes did not manifest within one year after discharge.

The Board denied service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and blindness, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for diabetes and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type I or type II, was not incurred in service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a low back disorder, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, right lumbar radioculopathy, and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations and mental health issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes and granted it based on herbicide exposure in Thailand. The effective date will be set at the date of the original claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Diabetes Mellitus, Type II are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence related to the claimed stressors and the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death, kidney failure, was found to be related to his service-connected PTSD and the underlying conditions of diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, and cirrhosis of the liver. As these conditions are presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.