Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and no direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the veteran's exposure to herbicides in Panama, which could impact his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, VCAA notice, and compliance with Dingess v. Nicholson.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and post-traumatic stress disorder are being remanded due to the need for proper notice, additional development of SSA records, and VA examinations.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to outstanding medical records and further evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type I does not require regulation of activities and thus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine whether the veteran's quadriplegia and other disabilities are related to a December 2002 VA cervical spine tumor resection surgery, including issues of informed consent and negligence.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the veteran's exposure to herbicides and to verify his account of flights in Vietnam. The claims for service connection for hearing loss and diabetes mellitus will be remanded for further action.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes is not related to his service, including any exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The claim was denied.

The veteran's death was caused by metastatic liver cancer due to bladder cancer, which is not service-connected. The Board denied the DIC claim as diabetes mellitus did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 60 percent for the veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus from March 27, 2001 to December 30, 2003. Since then, he is entitled to a 60 percent rating.

The VA has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus type II does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent since May 8, 2001.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression secondary to diabetes, CAD, valvular heart disease, acid reflux or GERD, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, intermittent claudication, diabetic retinopathy, left foot and toe disability, psoriasis, and hypertension. The reasons for these denials are provided in the decision.

The veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and the appellant's claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was denied due to lack of legal merit.

The Board found that the veteran does not have diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction related to a service-connected disability including as due to any claimed diabetes mellitus, an irregular heartbeat related to a service-connected disability including as due to any claimed diabetes mellitus, hypertension related to a service-connected disability including as due to any claimed diabetes mellitus, glaucoma related to a service-connected disability including as due to any claimed diabetes mellitus, or depressive and anxiety disorders, NOS, and social phobia. The Board denied these claims based on the lack of evidence supporting the veteran's assertions.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for at least eight years prior to his death, and therefore, the appellant is not entitled to additional monthly DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2).

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II does not require insulin or regulation of his activities. As a result, the initial disability rating for this condition remains at 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for obtaining terminal hospitalization records and a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's service-connected stasis dermatitis caused or contributed to his death.