Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, which he claims is due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Korea, was denied as there was no evidence of such exposure and the disease did not manifest within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred or aggravated by service, and specifically denied presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure due to lack of evidence showing the Veteran served in Vietnam.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 contributed to his death from respiratory failure and emphysema. As a result, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's diabetes was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board denied the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service or any presumptive exposure to herbicides. The Veteran was not exposed to Agent Orange during his service and did not serve in Vietnam.

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on housebound status due to multiple non-service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease. He also meets the age requirement for this benefit.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy, finding that his current hearing loss pre-existed service and was not aggravated therein.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for further verification of his alleged exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for nonservice-connected pension and special monthly pension on the basis of need for aid and attendance have been granted, with the effective date set at October 24, 1991, and May 20, 2004 respectively.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart condition, as well as her claim of entitlement to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of evidence meeting the statutory requirements.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, and his inverting papilloma is not service connected due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the non-service-connected disability pension award, finding that entitlement arose on November 16, 2004, when the Veteran's private physician provided medical evidence supporting his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and determining the nature of his periods of National Guard duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD, earlier effective date for PTSD service connection, and service connection for arthritis of the left hand, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), and hypertension were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including tuberculosis, liver damage and hepatitis, endocrine system damage with diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, neuropathy of extremities, diabetic retinopathy blindness, and headaches. The decision found that new evidence did not support reopening the claim for residuals of tuberculosis, and that there was no direct service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 17, 2006. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as he does not require insulin and his condition is stable with oral medication and diet.

The Board denied service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of its onset in service or a link to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim was based on presumed service connection due to herbicide exposure, but the Court and Federal Circuit have since ruled that such presumptions do not apply when there is no actual service in Vietnam.