Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have diabetic retinopathy or a disability manifested by memory loss, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnoses of diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and depression were not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current respiratory disorder, and there is no evidence of any chronic respiratory disorder in service. The low back disability was diagnosed as spinal bifida occulta at S1 during service. Service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension cannot be established due to lack of medical records linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for asthma, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and no relationship to service. The claims for reopening service connection for low back disorder and type II diabetes mellitus were not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to multiple drug intoxication, finding that none of the veteran's conditions (diabetes mellitus, lung cancer, or psychiatric condition) were related to his military service.

The Board is unable to determine if the veteran's conditions are related to his military service, as there is insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicides and ionizing radiation. The claims for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities will be remanded for further development.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have any of the claimed conditions due to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's previous claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus were not based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE), and thus, no earlier effective date can be granted. The claim was submitted in September 1994 but required new and material evidence to reopen.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, based on exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam, is granted as of the date of death (July 2001).

The Board has found that the veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus requires only insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, and a restricted diet. The disability does not require regulation of activities or any associated complications. Therefore, an increased evaluation beyond 20 percent is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. As a result, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II and service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to the need for clarification on whether he qualifies as a Vietnam veteran and for compliance with VCAA notice requirements.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for aid and attendance, thus denying his claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance.

The case is being remanded for additional development to determine the veteran's in-country exposure and service connection.

The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, a heart disorder, and PTSD all secondary to exposure during Project 112. The case has been remanded due to the need for further examination in accordance with VHA Directive 2004-016.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess his PTSD and diabetes mellitus. The TDIU claim will also be reconsidered in light of the new evidence.

The Board has granted increased ratings for gouty arthritis, diabetes mellitus, right wrist disability, and appendectomy scar. The veteran's pancreatitis is rated as 10 percent disabling.