Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's death was caused by aspiration pneumonia, which was related to Alzheimer's disease. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and dismissed the DIC benefits claim as moot.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and correctly decide the Veteran's claims, including service connection for PTSD. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. The initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are under review.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are found to be related to his service exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA), as well as to obtain a VA examination for his diabetes mellitus. The issues are whether he is entitled to service connection for diabetes mellitus and myocardial infarction.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities due to lack of evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease is granted as the condition falls under the recently amended regulation establishing presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy due to new and material evidence submitted since the August 2002 rating decision. The claim is granted as there is no evidence of a current disability related to military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma and cataracts, high cholesterol, and hypertension. The remaining issues of service connection for asbestosis, COPD, spurring of cervical and lumbar spine (back disorder), sleep apnea, tonsil disorder, bilateral knee arthritis with total knee replacement, right foot Achilles tendon (right foot disorder), and left foot disorder are addressed below.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of his lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus Type II, and anemia are presumed to have been incurred as a result of active duty service due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease, including as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the inadequacy of an examination report, and the case is returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. However, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not necessitate regulation of activities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding his diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, as well as a TDIU issue. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations and issuance of a Statement of the Case on increased rating claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease with osteophytes is dismissed because he is already compensated for the symptoms and manifestations of his current cervical spine disorder. Therefore, a separate award for this condition would be duplicative.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure of the RO to issue a Statement of the Case on the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2. The remaining claims are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by renal cell carcinoma, which is more likely than not due to asbestos and TCE exposure during military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for cause of the Veteran's death is granted.