Diabetes decisions — 2003

The veteran's service-connected diabetic retinopathy was granted a 10 percent rating from January 15, 1998 to August 7, 2000 and a 50 percent rating since August 8, 2000.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for diabetes mellitus, the highest available rating under VA's rating criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for insulin-dependent diabetes, chronic sinusitis with headaches, and a compensable rating for left varicocele.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition, PTSD, and diabetes mellitus, Type II. The effective dates for PTSD and diabetes mellitus were determined to be July 29, 1994, and October 29, 1999 respectively.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral cataracts, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), each claimed as secondary to his service-connected burn scars.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and determined that the veteran's current hypertension is related to his service. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, Type II, remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran was likely exposed to Agent Orange during service and ordered a VA examination to determine if there is at least as likely as not a medical relationship between his likely in-service exposure and current diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed to be related to service exposure to Agent Orange during his time off the coast of Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and denied service connection for hypertension. Diabetes mellitus was incurred in military service, while hypertension is not presumed or linked to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus Type II, service connection for a leg condition, and service connection for a skin condition due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The VA has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus does not warrant a higher initial rating than 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was incurred in service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant.

The Board found that the veteran did not have any service-connected conditions, and denied his claims for service connection based on exposure to herbicides. The disorders were not shown to be related to military service or to herbicide exposure.

The veteran has initiated appeals regarding the effective dates for non-service connected pension benefits and service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The RO must obtain additional medical records and provide the veteran with a Statement of the Case (SOC) to address his disagreement with the effective date assigned for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for blackouts and seizures, diabetes mellitus, and a hearing disability due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The RO granted a higher evaluation for service-connected Diabetes Mellitus, Type II, and assigned a 20 percent evaluation effective in July 2001. The veteran's appeal was successful.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus Type II, finding that the current rating adequately reflects his condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus, finding that the earliest claim was received on December 30, 1991.