Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran claims service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to herbicide exposure in Korea. The Board has requested verification of whether the Veteran's unit had ever patrolled near the DMZ where herbicides were used.

The Veteran claims service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, alleging exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Thailand. The Board has requested further development from the VA's Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards and the Air Force Personnel Center to verify if he was exposed to Agent Orange at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam.

The Veteran's adult-onset diabetes is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service near the DMZ in Korea, and thus presumptive service connection for adult-onset diabetes is granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is manifested by the required use of insulin and a restricted diet. The Board has determined that a 40 percent rating is warranted based on these manifestations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a rash, diabetes mellitus, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found no evidence of current conditions related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and he is seeking a higher rating. Additionally, the Veteran is requesting an increase in his special monthly compensation (SMC) allowance based on need for aid and attendance (A&A). The Board has determined that further development is necessary to properly assess these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for further examination of the appellant's diabetes and shortness of breath.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 20 percent and no more. The claim for a separate rating for renal dysfunction as a complication of diabetes mellitus, type II, is remanded.

The Veteran's contentions do not constitute a valid claim of CUE with respect to any rating decision assigning a disability rating and effective date for his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issue of whether the Veteran was entitled to enhanced DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2) is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death due to coronary artery disease and diabetes. The low back disability was deemed not a proximate cause of his death, but rather a minor factor in worsening his coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other presumptive conditions. The Board denied the DIC claim for cause of death and the burial allowance claim.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, and the issues regarding reopening service connection claims were also denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher initial rating or earlier effective date for his diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to continuity of symptomatology since service. The claims for diabetes mellitus, heart condition, and bilateral weakness of legs are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that further development is needed, including additional examinations and obtaining all relevant medical records. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with cataracts will be evaluated based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, the claims remain denied as there is no clear evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations of his service-connected diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and his nephropathy with hypertension is rated at 30 percent. The appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied, but the Veteran's nephropathy received an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an appropriate VA examination to determine if the appellant is in need of regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and other potential causes of his death, including post-service medical records.