Diabetes Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's death, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The service-connected disabilities contributed substantially to the veteran's death, and by extending the benefit of doubt, the Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, as his condition is not insulin-dependent and controlled with oral medication and a restricted diet.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's claims for service connection for various symptoms, including diabetes mellitus and undiagnosed illnesses. The case is now remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board found that the veteran's nicotine dependence, which was related to his service-connected eye disorder, caused his death due to emphysema and other conditions. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's low back, neck, diabetes mellitus Type II, and hepatitis C disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus effective from April 5, 2001. The veteran's claim was received within one year of the effective date of a liberalizing regulation that added Type II diabetes mellitus to the list of presumptive diseases associated with exposure to herbicides.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease is not significantly related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and was more likely due to other significant risk factors.

The Board has granted service connection for liver disease, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus associated with Type II diabetes mellitus. The evaluations are all rated at 20 percent from August 6, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding no evidence of a prior informal or formal claim before September 10, 1998.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 60 percent for the veteran's diabetes mellitus, effective April 23, 2001.

The May 2002 decision corrected an administrative error in the service-connected combined disability rating, adjusting it from 30 percent to 20 percent effective August 1, 2002.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and evaluations have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus or a higher evaluation for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a significant change in VA law and incomplete notification requirements.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II is denied. The RO will obtain and associate with the claims file any outstanding private medical records from his treating physician to determine if there has been a worsening of his hypertension and hand condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, basal cell carcinoma of the right ear, and squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip. The denial is based on a finding that there was no exposure to herbicides during service and no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or due to active service and may not be presumed related to herbicide exposure. The claim for PTSD is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, with significant occupational and social impairment.

The veteran's service on board a destroyer off the coast of Vietnam does not constitute 'service in the Republic of Vietnam' for purposes of VA regulations, and therefore he is not presumed to have incurred or aggravated his diabetes by his service or exposure to an herbicide agent during such service.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance (RH) was denied due to his obesity and chronic polyarthritis, which exceeded the maximum allowable number of 'debits'. The case is being remanded to adjudicate secondary service connection claims.