Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran is granted special monthly pension at the housebound rate due to his age and multiple nonservice-connected disabilities, with a combined rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing is granted due to his service-connected disabilities. However, he is precluded from receiving a special home adaptation grant as he already qualifies for the acquisition of specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he contends is due to exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam, has been denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam or that his diabetes mellitus developed as a result of such exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable due to their severity, as he is able to perform substantially gainful employment despite his disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction as they are not related to service or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thrombocytopenia, hypothyroidism, and diabetes mellitus as there is no evidence that these conditions began in or are related to her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestos-related lung disease, back disability, right leg disability, head injury, eye disability, and stomach disability. The claims for diabetes mellitus were also denied. No new and material evidence was submitted to reopen any of these previously-denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). The issues of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Okinawa and no medical opinion linking his current condition to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO/AMC for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. H and scheduling a VA ophthalmology examination.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension on account of the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetic nephropathy with aggravated essential hypertension.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not otherwise causally related to his military service. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during the period of service in Korea.

The Veteran did not apply for RH insurance during his lifetime and was not found to be incompetent from a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for his daily needs or protect himself from the hazards of his environment, such that he requires the regular aid and attendance of another person. He does not have loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet or hands, nor ankylosis of one or both knees or hips due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial disability evaluation for diabetes mellitus was increased to 40 percent effective April 8, 2004. Service connection for bilateral cataracts was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim seeking service connection for loss of vision in the right eye, but service connection cannot be granted as it was denied due to lack of evidence at that time. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is presumed based on herbicide exposure during service in the Republic of Vietnam.,Service connection for TMJ syndrome and headaches is not granted as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's claim for alcoholism is precluded by law, and hypoglycemia is not a disability for which VA benefits can be awarded.,Impaired immunity, swollen prostate, and swollen lymph glands are presumed due to herbicide exposure and radiation, but there is no evidence of these conditions being related to service.

The Veteran is eligible for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing and necessary adaptive equipment due to his service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and CVA.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the appellant's service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus, type II, caused or aggravated his hypertension. The RO must obtain a clarifying opinion from the examiner who conducted the January 2009 VA examination.