Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that there is competent evidence tending to establish bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus type II are attributable to service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that an effective date prior to March 14, 2007 for the grant of DIC benefits is not warranted as there was no indication of intent from the appellant to apply for such benefits before this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence. The primary issue is whether his current sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a request for a video-conference hearing. The service connection issues for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bronchial asthma and bilateral pes planus were denied. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 1 is being remanded to the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA medical opinions provided, and additional development is needed.

The Board has ordered a remand to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, which was not adequately addressed in the previous examination. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus with secondary renal disease and hepatitis B with cirrhosis were denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other causative factors.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of these conditions until many years after discharge from active duty, and there is no credible evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that the disability picture did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation prior to May 10, 2005 and beginning on May 10, 2005, it met criteria for a 40% evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were denied. The Board also found that his claim for TDIU was not raised by the record.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic nephropathy is not rated higher than 30 percent, and his peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities do not meet criteria for a compensable rating. The Board also denied entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of atherosclerosis and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, attributing it to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in active duty due to exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Korea. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran was in receipt of a 20 percent disability rating for diabetes mellitus, which required insulin and a restricted diet.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The evidence submitted since the last final denial is considered new and material, as it relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (the need for a link between diabetes and exposure to herbicides).

The Veteran's adult helpless child, D.S.R., is receiving $37 in apportionment benefits. The Board has determined that an additional $50 per month would not cause undue hardship on the Veteran and grants a $50 increase in his apportionment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service-connected conditions. The lung disorder is not shown to be directly related to service or service-connected conditions, but may be due to obesity and sleep apnea.