Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Lee Regional Medical Center from July 17, 2006 to July 19, 2006 was denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment or authorization.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the requirements for service connection for the limited purpose of receiving VA outpatient treatment.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, with hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, rectal abscess, retinopathy, and renal insufficiency, was not incurred or aggravated by service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, diabetes mellitus (due to herbicide exposure), and heart disease have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD during service or currently suffers from PTSD. Diabetes mellitus is not related to service, nor can it be presumed due to herbicide exposure. Heart disease was also not related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudication, including obtaining medical records from SSA, VA, and a private hospital.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there is no evidence of a disease in service or at any point during the presumption period, and the competent medical evidence does not establish a relationship between his current disability and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for service connection were denied. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, PTSD at 50 percent.

The Veteran died from myocardial infarction, diabetes, and myasthenia gravis. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor could they be presumed to have been due to exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange.

The Veteran's hypertension, including as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, and tremors of the arms, hands, and legs, have been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II on a presumptive basis due to in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Board found that the Veteran has diabetes and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that he did not serve in Vietnam. Therefore, severance of service connection for diabetes was improper.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death was not due to a disability incurred in or aggravated by active service, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death based on exposure to Agent Orange is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet determined whether new and material evidence supports each individual claim. The Veteran's mental condition claim is now reopened due to his submission of new evidence regarding his alleged in-service PTSD stressors.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for 2005 was denied by the VAMC. The Board has decided to remand the case back to the VAMC for further action, including obtaining additional medical records and providing proper notice under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied, and the Board determined that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his previously denied claim for earlier effective date for special monthly compensation at R-1 and R-2 rates.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including renal insufficiency with hypertension, cataracts, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, hearing loss, and tinnitus render the Veteran unemployable. Therefore, the Board finds that entitlement to individual unemployability is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from November 2000 to August 2001 is granted as he meets the schedular criteria and there is probative evidence of his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on his current symptoms and treatment regimen.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding whether the appellant's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2. The case must be returned for a new VA examination to determine this relationship.