Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to new evidence submitted, including exposure to herbicides during active duty in Vietnam. The Secretary of VA recently added diabetes to the list of diseases associated with herbicide exposure. The case is remanded for further consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran is unemployable due to multiple disabilities, including chronic lumbar syndrome and degenerative joint disease. The evidence shows he suffers from a combination of conditions that prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied both claims for service connection and a rating increase.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that his suicide was not due to a service-connected disability and thus denying the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and elevated triglycerides, and diabetic retinopathy. The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for arteriosclerotic heart disease was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for residuals of cyst removal from the penis, diabetes, a heart disorder, and a kidney disorder. The evidence submitted since the final decisions was found to be cumulative and not new or material.

The appellant seeks to establish service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was caused by pulmonary fibrosis, diabetes mellitus, and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The VA is required to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these causes of death.

The veteran's death was caused by an acute myocardial infarction, but the VA medical treatment for a left femoral neck fracture played a contributory role in hastening his death. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no increase in severity of her pre-existing condition during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, cirrhosis of the liver, and diabetes mellitus. The claim to reopen the frostbite of the feet was also denied.

The veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his claims file. The RO must ensure all notification and development actions required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 are completed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin disorder associated with his back is one and the same as those suffered while in service, granting service connection. The diabetes mellitus with retinopathy remains at a 60% evaluation due to lack of severe complications.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as her conditions are not related to her military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The RO granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the other issues on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD and service connection for diabetes mellitus, which was claimed as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his claims. The PTSD claim was granted with a 10% rating.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied because the additional disabilities were not found to be caused by VA medical or surgical treatment, and there is no evidence of negligence or fault on VA's part.

The Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, effective from June 6, 1996. The arthritis of the lower thoracic spine was rated as 10 percent disabling.