Diabetes decisions — 2003

The Board finds that the veteran's claimed gastritis and diabetes mellitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus during service or within the first year after service, and concluded that it is less likely than not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for issuance of a statement of the case addressing the issue of entitlement to an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus. The veteran was not provided with instructions on how to perfect his appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is severe enough to warrant a 60 percent rating, but her right knee disability does not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, resulting from herbicide exposure, and its secondary conditions was granted. The effective date is not specified as the decision is based on a presumptive condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and post-operative residuals of a benign tumor in the left lung were not well grounded. As such, they have been denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound residuals played a causal role in his death from hypernephroma, contributing to peripheral vascular disease and other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for manic depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus (not related to Agent Orange exposure), and PTSD. The TDIU issue was deferred due to additional development.

The VA has granted an increased evaluation of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, which is currently rated at that level.

The Board determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not related to service and denied his claim.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus (type II) is denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on the current level of disability.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus required insulin and a restricted diet, with no recent episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization. The criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes mellitus due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant due to lack of statutory eligibility, as he is not statutorily eligible for these benefits.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus as it was not present in service or later, and is not related to a disease or injury in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, which is presumptively associated with herbicide exposure in Vietnam. As a result, the cause of the veteran's death is now considered service connected.

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

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was granted service connection with a non-compensable rating from May 25, 2001 to October 18, 2001. From October 19, 2001 onwards, he is rated at 20 percent for this condition. The veteran's hepatitis C has been granted service connection with a 40 percent rating since May 21, 2001. He also received TDIU benefits.