Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and asbestosis. The claim for residuals of a stroke remains denied due to lack of in-service or post-service medical evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his cardiovascular problems to service or a service-connected condition. The Board also determined that the appellant is not eligible for non-service-connected VA death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus and proliferative diabetic retinopathy are service-connected, with the latter condition being secondary to the former.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type-2 due to exposure to herbicides is being remanded for further development, including a VA medical examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus more closely approximated the criteria for a 100 percent rating as of December 15, 2006.

The veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, including as due to herbicide exposure in Korea, is being remanded for further development of his unit records and treatment history.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule a VA examination for both hypertension and diabetic retinopathy.

The veteran is seeking higher disability ratings for diabetes mellitus, including a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to March 4, 2008 and a rating in excess of 40 percent from that date. The case is being remanded due to the need for updated private medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected knee conditions, pancreas condition, diabetes mellitus, low back condition, kidney condition, prostate condition, neck condition, left wrist condition, right wrist condition, colon/intestine condition, and left hip condition. The veteran was also denied service connection for a bladder condition and a stomach disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have type II diabetes mellitus that is related to his military service and therefore denied the claim.

The veteran's cause of death was a cerebrovascular accident due to diabetes and coronary artery disease. The Board found that these conditions were not service-connected.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus type-2 is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's hypertension is being aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and vision loss (claimed as blindness) on the grounds that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service in Korea did not qualify for the presumption of Agent Orange exposure, and thus denied his claim. The case is being remanded to comply with VA procedures regarding possible herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that a more specific attempt to document any visitation to the DMZ in Korea is warranted because any documented missions and landing in these areas would trigger the presumptive service connection provisions regarding herbicide exposure. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death and any diseases or disabilities substantially contributing to his death were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and may not be presumed to have been caused or aggravated by active military service.

The Board is remanding the cases to the RO for clarification on whether the veteran desires a Travel Board or videoconference hearing, and to schedule such hearing in accordance with his preference.