Diabetes Board decisions

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was not related to his military service and denied entitlement to improved pension benefits due to the appellant's income exceeding the maximum limit.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status has been denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and impotence are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board found no evidence of in-service disease or injury and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, concluding that it was not incurred during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a request for additional information from the veteran regarding his service in Vietnam.

The case is remanded for further development to determine the etiology of the veteran's diabetes mellitus and whether it should be service-connected based on new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and cataracts as secondary to steroid treatment received for the veteran's service-connected splenectomy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for thyroid surgeries conducted at a VA medical facility in February and May 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and notification, including providing a statement of the case on the issue of service connection for cancer of the head and neck based on accrued benefits.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status is denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board denied a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, but later assigned a 100% rating effective November 30, 2001. The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicide agents and the condition did not manifest within one year of discharge. The Board also found that the veteran did not have service in Vietnam.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, finding that no claim was filed prior to September 24, 1999. The evaluation for diabetes mellitus remains at 40 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, while the claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus was denied as the evidence did not show that he required insulin or a restricted diet prior to May 23, 2003 and subsequent to this date.

The veteran's pancreatic cancer, which caused his death, was found to be related to his service-connected diabetes. Therefore, the appellant is entitled to accrued benefits for both service connection and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the current severity of the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and whether it requires regulation of activities. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied all service connection claims for the veteran's claimed disabilities, finding that they were not related to his military service or a service-connected disorder.

The veteran's service includes service in the waters offshore Vietnam, but not within the Republic of Vietnam. Diabetes Mellitus was not manifested during active service or within a year of his separation from service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to herbicide exposure or any other event during active service.

The Board found that diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred in service, but denied the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for central retinal occlusion of the left eye with vision loss due to VA surgery.