Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service disease or injury and the long interval between service and diagnosis makes it unlikely that the current conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy were not incurred in active service or due to exposure to herbicides. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, grand mal seizures, headaches, hearing loss, and dizziness are being remanded due to the need for additional records from his VA treatment providers.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and further review is required before a final decision can be made on his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not the surviving spouse of the Veteran, and therefore, DIC benefits are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorders and Type II diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain his STRs, confirm herbicide exposure at Eglin Air Force Base, and provide VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam. Further efforts are needed to verify if the Veteran set foot within the land borders of the Republic of Vietnam during his service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, claimed as secondary to in-service herbicide exposure, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service records and treatment history.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's back disability. The diabetes mellitus claim is also being remanded due to the Court's decision in Haas v. Nicholson.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need to verify the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Thailand.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a finding of herbicide exposure during service, and thus the Veteran's cause of death cannot be presumed to have been incurred in or as a result of active service. The Board also determined that the Veteran did not suffer from any conditions related to his military service at the time of his death.

The Board finds that prior authorization from VA for the Veteran's private medical treatment at Winter Park Hospital on November 3, 2003 was provided. Therefore, payment or reimbursement of the cost of this care is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's case is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. If deemed necessary, the case will then be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for payment of unauthorized medical expenses for services rendered at Northern Hospital of Surrey County on June 16, 2008 is denied as the evidence does not establish that the treatment was necessary due to an emergency condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic retinopathy (to include cataracts) and bilateral neuropathy of the upper extremities are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The case will be returned to the RO via the AMC for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand and/or the Philippines, which is required by VA regulations. The Veteran also needs to provide authorization for private treatment records related to his hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims of service connection for prostatitis, burn scars of the left knee, arthritis of the left knee, and diabetes mellitus. The February 2007 rating decision found no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not continuously rated totally disabling for at least five years from the date of his separation from service, and he did not meet the requirement of being a former prisoner of war who died after September 30, 1999. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by diabetes mellitus, which is service-connected. The effective date for DIC benefits is set at May 25, 2005.