Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is related to his diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran and his representative have provided evidence that he did not attend the scheduled VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also denied his surviving spouse's claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's proximity to the perimeter of Udorn RTAFB during his active duty in Thailand qualifies him for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is granted as due to herbicide agent exposure during service at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's high cholesterol is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes, so his claim of service connection for this condition must be denied. For the other conditions, the Board found that additional development is needed including examinations and etiology opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding new and material evidence. The issues of entitlement to service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except TDIU and DEA benefits, which have been granted with earlier effective dates.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of death and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's diabetes has been treated with insulin and a restricted diet, but does not require regulation of activities for management. The evidence supports the currently assigned 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy is rated at 50 percent from June 29, 2016 to December 15, 2019. The PTSD rating remains remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found no evidence of regulation of activities required for a higher rating. The erectile dysfunction was not separately rated and is considered noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, finding that the Veteran served in Vietnam and is presumptively exposed to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the appellant's exposure to toxins at Fort McClellan, Alabama during her period of ACDUTRA. The VA will provide appropriate examinations and determine if there is a relationship between these conditions and the in-service exposures.

The Veteran's diabetes and left knee disability were evaluated, with the left knee receiving a higher rating due to specific limitations. The diabetes was not rated higher as it did not require insulin or regulation of activities.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no indication from the record that he served in Vietnam and therefore could not be presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents. The Board also found that none of his service-connected conditions were a contributory cause of his death.

The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy and earlier effective dates for various benefits.,His claim for a TDIU rating prior to December 27, 2011, and an effective date prior to December 27, 2011, for basic eligibility to DEA benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 are also pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the cause of death and whether service-connected conditions contributed to it, due to potential herbicide agent exposure. The appellant's claim for DIC benefits is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes and vasectomy residuals due to scheduling issues, and for PTSD and hypertension ratings due to lack of VA examinations.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to fully assist the Veteran with his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and updating VA treatment records. The claims are remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which included acute myocardial infarction due to extensive ischemic heart disease and end-stage renal disease, is related to service exposure. The Board found reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant regarding the Veteran's exposure to dioxins and lead during service, leading to a finding of service connection for the cause of death.