Diabetes decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected schizophrenia, but rather by non-service connected conditions such as intravenous drug abuse and diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for low back syndrome, but granted compensable evaluations for dry skin of the feet.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was granted with an effective date of January 23, 2001. The condition is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus likely had its onset during his active military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or a chronic eye disorder in service. The veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is service-connected and rated at 10% since October 1, 2002. The initial ratings for post-operative degenerative joint disease of the right knee (rated as 10%) and instability of the right knee (also rated as 10%) are upheld.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type I. The veteran engaged in combat and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder related to his service in Vietnam. However, there is no evidence of diabetes mellitus in service or within one year following discharge, and the Board found that it did not meet the presumptive criteria based on Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation services, finding that he was rehabilitated to the point of employability and did not meet criteria to reenter training.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus effective from May 11, 1999. The appellant's condition required insulin and a restricted diet.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus, was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected schizophrenia.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for rectal cancer, diabetes mellitus, and hemorrhoids have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current diabetes mellitus with amputation of the left foot toes was not related to his service and denied the claim.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disability did not cause or contribute to his death and that there was no evidence linking any clinical manifestations in service to his later diagnosed conditions.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is controlled with insulin twice a day and a restricted diet, but his activities are not regulated due to the condition. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted the veteran's waiver of recovery for an overpayment of VA improved pension benefits in the amount of $2,750.00 due to financial hardship and mitigated fault on both the part of the veteran and the VA.

The Board has remanded the case due to a proposed reduction in the rating for diabetes mellitus and its complications, which could affect the veteran's entitlement to TDIU. The appeal is now pending further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed diabetes mellitus had its initial onset during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance (RH) was denied because his non-service-connected conditions exceeded the required threshold of 'good health,' as determined by VA under its insurance guidelines.