Diabetes decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death is well-grounded, and thus grants the claim. The veteran died from arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with diabetes mellitus listed as an other significant condition contributing to his death.

The veteran's well-grounded claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is granted, but the RO has not yet determined if he meets the income requirements. The Board also notes that his disabilities are due to willful misconduct and may not be considered in determining eligibility.

The appellant's claim for special monthly death pension based on the need of aid and attendance due to her deteriorating vision is being remanded for further development, including a VA medical examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance, finding that he is not blind or nearly so, does not require regular aid and assistance due to his physical condition, and is capable of managing his daily activities without assistance.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and dependency and indemnity compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking his death to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain and diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and PTSD due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it was not incurred during or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded and therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's heart disorder, pulmonary disorder, and stroke (cerebrovascular accident) as aggravated by his service-connected psychoneurosis, anxiety and conversion. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder, prostate disorder, and orchialgia.

The Board has found that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are well grounded. The veteran experienced elevated blood pressure during service, which is considered a plausible basis for his current diagnoses of hypertension. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed within one year after service discharge, meeting the presumptive period criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board found that the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is not well grounded due to lack of evidence linking the conditions causing or contributing to his death to military service.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus was rated at 40 percent prior to July 18, 1988 and at 60 percent from July 18, 1988 to September 8, 1992. The Board denied an increased rating for the period of time from July 18, 1988 to September 8, 1992. Service connection was granted for a seizure disorder secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found no competent medical evidence to show that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is attributable to military service. The issue of a higher evaluation for sensory deficit in the right upper extremity was not addressed as it pertained to an existing disability.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, residuals of a head injury, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral foot deformity. The claim for increased evaluation of bronchial asthma was granted but the veteran disagreed with the assigned percentage.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and lumbosacral strain. The current ratings of 30%, 20%, 50%, and 10% respectively are maintained.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for the veteran's diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, and denied an increased disability rating for his hypertension.

The Board is unable to determine if the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death. The claim will be remanded for further development, including obtaining VA hospital records and clarifying the VA physician's opinion regarding the role of PTSD in the cause of death.