Diabetes Board decisions

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus with diabetic coronary artery disease and diabetic heart disease occlusion did not begin or increase in severity during service, nor can it be presumed to have begun due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's exposure to herbicides and his service in Vietnam, which is necessary for determining whether he can be presumed exposed to Agent Orange. The claim will be reconsidered after additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the veteran's diabetes mellitus, allergies, or cataracts are related to his military service exposure to neurotoxins.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, and the veteran's current diagnosis was not shown to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased initial evaluation of diabetes mellitus and service connection for hypertension. The VA found that there was no evidence to support a higher rating for diabetes mellitus or a link between hypertension and service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service in Vietnam qualifies him for presumed exposure to Agent Orange, and diabetes mellitus, type II is among the diseases recognized as etiologically associated with such exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, due to Agent Orange exposure is granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back strain with degenerative changes is being remanded due to the need for further development and clarification of whether any current neurological symptoms can be solely attributable to the low back disability.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and a higher evaluation for his diabetes mellitus. The case needs further development.

The Board has determined that the claims are not ready for appellate disposition due to missing service medical records and lack of information regarding the veteran's POW status. The VA is instructed to make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant records, including from private providers.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, and there is no presumption of service connection based on herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, so there are no remaining issues for the Board to consider.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and unclear medical history. The case will be remanded for further investigation into the veteran's service, employment history, and medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, heart disorder, seizure disorder (epilepsy), bronchitis, and diabetes mellitus. The decision found that new evidence did not establish a current disability or link these conditions to service.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type 2 and COPD were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The veteran's service-connected diabetic polyneuropathy of the left and right feet is currently rated at 20 percent each, while his diabetes mellitus type 2 is rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate based on the current evidence.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, the minimum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his condition does not warrant a higher rating as it does not require regulation of activities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran died of hypostatic pneumonia, which was due to a cerebrovascular accident caused by diabetes mellitus. The Board found no service connection for any disability and could not establish that the death was related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for wrist condition and PTSD, as well as his claim for skin rash due to herbicide exposure. The claim for diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy was also denied. Additionally, the rating for low back disability was not increased.