an April 2014 Board decision, the claim was remanded for further evidentiary development.  As will be described below, a review of the record reflects substantial compliance with the Board's Remand directives.  See Stegall v. West, 11 Vet. App. 268, 271 (1998).  The VA Appeals Management Center (AMC) continued the previous denial in a January 2015 supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).  The Veteran's VA claims file has been returned to the Board for further appellate proceedings.


FINDING OF FACT

Diabetes mellitus, type II, was not manifested in service or until years later and is not otherwise attributable to the Veteran's active service.


CONCLUSION OF LAW

Diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or aggravated by the Veteran's active military service.  38 U.S.C.A. §§ 1110, 1116(f), 5107asserts that he had high sugar and cholesterol readings in service for which he was sent to dietary classes.  See the January 2012 Board hearing transcript at pg. 3.  He also argues that, shortly after his 1998 retirement, he was placed on medication for diabetes.  Id. at 3.

As noted above, the Veteran served on active duty from August 1976 to October 1998.  As has been explained above, some of the Veteran's STRs are missing.  The Court has held that in cases where records once in the hands of the government are lost, the Board has a heightened obligation to explain its findings and conclusions and to consider carefully the benefit-of- the-doubt rule.  See O'Hare v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 365, 367 (1991).