Diabetes Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further review by a Veterans Service Center Manager or Decision Review Officer, and for scheduling of a hearing at the Roanoke, Virginia, RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus does not warrant a disability rating greater than 20 percent, as it currently requires insulin and a restricted diet without additional symptoms or complications.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death, and the Board finds that there is no competent evidence linking his terminal illness of sepsis and pneumonia to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including examinations and the release of private treatment records.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence of exposure to mustard gas and other chemical/biological agents during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining service medical records and VA examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's diabetes mellitus and heart condition.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus during service or for many years thereafter, and the veteran did not have duty or visitation in the Republic of Vietnam. Therefore, presumptive service connection based on exposure to Agent Orange is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2 and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran seeks service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, which he claims is due to exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case due to incomplete medical records and will consider all claims raised by the evidence, including theories of entitlement not previously considered.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability. The Board denied the claims for service connection for the cause of death, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain the veteran's medical records, schedule him for an examination, and consider his claims under the new rating criteria for spine disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as there is no competent clinical evidence of any such conditions during or after his military service.

The VA denied a higher disability rating for the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, which is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy warrants a 20 percent rating, effective from March 28, 2002. The combined disability evaluation of 40 percent for his service-connected disabilities remains proper. The increased ratings for PTSD and residuals of shrapnel wounds to the left leg are denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision, so the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and residuals of a circumcision, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine when the veteran's diabetes mellitus started and whether his National Guard service included qualifying active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's post-operative infections were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment. The infections were deemed reasonably foreseeable given his medical history and condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining his Social Security Administration records and readjudicating his claim based on all evidence of record.