Diabetes decisions — 2001

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected insulin dependent diabetes mellitus did not cause or aggravate his glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, thus denying his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for heart disease and diabetes mellitus. The July 1984 and January 1985 rating decisions denying service connection for PTSD were not found to contain clear and unmistakable error.

The veteran's application for reinstatement of his National Service Life Insurance policy was denied because he did not meet the requirement of being in 'good health' at the time of applying, as determined by VA underwriting standards.

The Board found that the veteran's right below the knee amputation was not caused by VA treatment and therefore denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication of issues related to service connection for diabetes mellitus and loss of sight due to diabetes, both secondary to service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to warrant reopening of the appellant's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been submitted, resulting in a grant of this issue.

The veteran's gastroparesis is found to be a result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation was granted, with the effective date set at April 4, 2000. The decision also awarded regular aid and attendance benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus warrants a 40 percent rating under the old schedular criteria, and his background diabetic retinopathy warrants a 10 percent rating.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. His low back strain disability was increased from 10% to 20%. The veteran does not dispute these determinations and the appeal for an increased rating has not been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is due to exposure to herbicides in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that no prior informal claim existed and that August 14, 1998 was the earliest date as of which service connection could be assigned.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for effective dates of service connection and increased evaluation for peripheral vascular disease (PVD) of both lower extremities, with a rating of 40 percent effective January 12, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for cutaneous carcinomas of the cheeks and diabetes mellitus, both claimed as secondary to cold injury. The evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The veteran's claim for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus from March 17, 1967 to June 10, 1975. The veteran was granted a 10 percent evaluation for the period from March 17 to August 6, 1967.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for the veteran's death, entitlement to accrued benefits, and dependents' educational assistance.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied due to insufficient medical evidence and his failure to comply with VA's efforts to obtain the necessary evidence.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.