Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his hypertensive heart disease and other contributing conditions were not related to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's reported stressor involving a fellow service member. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining gainful employment at any time during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(1) is granted with an effective date of February 15, 2013.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the Board denied claims for increased pension benefits and accrued benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type I (diabetes), with erectile dysfunction, bilateral diabetic retinopathy, and cellulitis is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that new VA opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, heart disability, chronic kidney disease/renal insufficiency, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and loss of use of a creative organ. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy with diabetic peripheral neuropathy was denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show it to be more than mild or moderate in severity.

The Veteran's cause of death is due to liver failure, which was caused by diabetes mellitus type II. The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II had its onset during his service and led to his fatal chronic liver rejection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for DMII, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and stroke residuals due to insufficient information regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran's unit history needs to be verified through the JSRRC.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hand skin disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to unresolved medical opinions regarding etiology.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit due to a preponderance of evidence showing his condition was related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.,Her claim for new and material evidence to reopen a previously denied chest pain claim has been granted, but the case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims, including for peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), loss of teeth as a result of Camp Lejeune exposure, type II diabetes mellitus as a result of Camp Lejeune exposure, and a headache disorder. The Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is conceded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it did not require regulation of activities to control. Therefore, a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with related conditions is remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and its related complications due to potential herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's claim is based on his assertion of herbicide exposure at Fort McClellan in Allison, Alabama from March 7, 1977, to May 5, 1977.

The Board has remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus and hemorrhoids due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical evidence and because of the need to determine if the USS Tolovana was within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam while he served aboard. The hearing loss claim is also being remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.