Diabetes Board decisions

The Board found no direct service connection for the iritis, but granted secondary service connection based on diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's eye disorder is not related to active duty.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 60%, which meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, he is not unemployable solely due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypertension due to lack of exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's diabetes did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it did not result in episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia requiring hospitalization or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with other service-connected conditions, prevents him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is found to be due to exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) during service, and the Board grants service connection for type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's death was caused by gastric cancer, and the appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of his death. She also seeks DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 due to alleged fault on the part of VA medical providers in not discovering his gastric cancer earlier.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records from the Detroit VAMC for the period of 1970-1975 and SSA disability benefit records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death due to diabetes mellitus is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right thigh disability, to include involuntary body movement and pain, is not related to his diabetes mellitus or service-connected lymphoblastic lymphoma. As a result, the claim for service connection for this condition was denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus is pending and requires further examination and opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran did not set foot on Vietnam soil, thus making it impossible to apply the provisions of presumptive service connection for herbicide exposure. As a result, the claims for diabetes mellitus and its related conditions were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected Type II Diabetes Mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective July 10, 2004. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found that the Veteran's reported in-service combat-related stressors are sufficient to establish a current diagnosis of PTSD. The issue of an initial compensable evaluation for diabetic retinopathy is remanded due to receipt of additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, or vision. Therefore, the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment are not met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an examination to assess the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA clinical records and a medical examination. The examiner will assess whether his service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a direct link between the conditions and active duty. The secondary claim for coronary artery disease due to diabetes was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for lower extremity neuropathies is not addressed as the issues were recharacterized.