Diabetes decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including pulmonary tuberculosis, peptic ulcer disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and congestive heart failure, were not incurred or aggravated during his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent, as it did not require more than one daily injection of insulin or result in episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia requiring at least three hospitalizations per year. The evidence showed frequent emergency room visits for hypoglycemic symptoms but no actual hospitalizations.

The veteran's loss of vision in the right eye due to diabetic retinopathy was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error. The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the claims for accrued benefits were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The VA determined that the veteran's disabilities do not render him unable to adequately attend to daily living needs or substantially confined to his dwelling and immediate premises, thus denying special monthly pension benefits based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claims.

The Board has granted an initial 60 percent rating for diabetes mellitus with impotency and peripheral neuropathy, effective from May 1999. The veteran's symptoms justify this increased rating.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to any condition incurred or aggravated during service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus and his TDIU claim have been addressed. The RO has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but the hearing disability does not meet the legal definition of a service connectable hearing disability. The RO also increased the veteran's rating for diabetes mellitus to 40 percent effective July 16, 1998. Additional development is needed due to deficiencies in previous requests.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, an acute myocardial infarction, was not caused or materially affected by any service-connected disability. The appellant claimed that her husband's longstanding disabilities and bedridden state contributed to his death.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the veteran's diabetes was not incurred during service or due to his service-connected residuals of cold injuries. The Board concluded that there is no causal link between the veteran's diabetes and either condition.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew her appeal in writing before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was incurred in service, as evidenced by his diagnosis within one year of discharge.

The Board found that the veteran's anxiety disorder did not cause or contribute to his death, and denied service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD warrants a 100 percent rating, effective October 15, 1996. The claims for service connection for Type II diabetes, chronic lung disorder, chronic skin disorder, and heart disorder are denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

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 denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a claim based on presumptive service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors. The Board also found no medical evidence showing the conditions were first manifested within one year of separation from service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Crohn's disease and hypertension contributed to his death, warranting service connection for the cause of death. The veteran did not have service-connected Crohn's disease.