Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity is granted. Service connection for kidney failure and back neuropathy are not established, but service connection for loss of balance is denied. The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities results in moderate impairment prior to January 9, 2007, and severe impairment from that date forward.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral leg disorder, low back injury residuals, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence submitted since the last final denial did not provide new or material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and peripheral arterial disease has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetic neuropathy of both lower extremities warrants a rating in excess of 10 percent, with each leg receiving a 20 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as due to herbicide exposure is being remanded for further development. The Board will attempt to verify the Veteran's claimed service in Vietnam and obtain deck logs from the USS REGULUS.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death (acute myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease with contributing diabetes mellitus) was not related to his service. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was also denied as there were no qualifying total disability ratings.

The Veteran claims service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he asserts is due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) during his military service. The Board has ordered the VA to verify the Veteran's claimed flight into Vietnam and to review all personnel records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities, finding no current diagnosis of this condition in the medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is granted with a 30 percent rating, effective from March 1997. The RO also increased the ratings for high blood pressure and diabetic retinopathy of both eyes.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues except the ones related to Agent Orange exposure. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these remaining issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and neuropathy due to injury of the inferior orbital nerve were denied. The Veteran's diabetes requires insulin and a restricted diet, but does not require regulation of activities. His right orbital nerve disorder is manifested by numbness of the right cheek.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's contentions that his current type II diabetes mellitus is related to service, and denied the claim. The right knee replacement issue remains pending as it involves a denial of entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Buchanan General Hospital on November 21, 2006 was denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for a medical emergency and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The RO awarded a 40 percent rating effective September 26, 2006, for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and employment history.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any current cervical spine disorder is related to service. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities precluding him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and hypertensive heart disease to allow for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has ordered a remand to provide the Veteran with notice of 38 C.F.R. § 3.156 in a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC), which includes a citation to that regulation, and to review his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus.