Diabetes decisions — 2004

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the last final VA determination did not raise a reasonable probability of changing the outcome and denied the claim to reopen.

The veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he claims is due to exposure to Agent Orange while serving along the DMZ in South Korea. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, residuals of a stroke, asthma, right hip and right ankle disorders. The veteran was also denied increased evaluations for left and right shin splints as well as an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral pes planus.

The veteran's loss of toes is being remanded for further examination to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected dermatophytosis.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the veteran's claimed conditions and his service, including exposure to asbestos. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that he did not have current diabetes and thus failed to meet the threshold requirement of a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, but denied the claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and DIC pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicide agents and a 10% evaluation for traumatic amputation of the left fifth finger effective December 31, 2002. The earlier effective date claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was present during his period of service and is related to his military service, granting the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus may be presumed to have been incurred in service due to his service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

PTSD was granted with a 30 percent rating from December 15, 1997 to January 6, 2002 and a 50 percent rating thereafter.,Right clavicle resection was granted with a 10 percent rating from May 22, 1997 to February 5, 2001 and a 30 percent rating thereafter.,Diabetes mellitus type II was granted with a 20 percent rating.

The veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal regarding the effective date claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The veteran's initial rating for type II diabetes mellitus was denied, but a higher rating of 40 percent effective February 13, 2004, was granted.,The veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction secondary to his diabetes mellitus was denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including Social Security Administration records and VA medical center records. The RO must also schedule examinations to determine the current level of disability due to diabetes mellitus, post-surgical scar, eye disability, and asthma.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, and found that the decisions to deny service connection for various conditions were not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The veteran was also denied service connection for PTSD, asthma, a right and left upper extremity condition (claimed as arm condition), prostate disability, kidney disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, heart disability, foot disability, and back disability.

The veteran's claims of increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II and individual unemployability are being remanded due to the need for further examination and development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding that his military service did not include service in the Republic of Vietnam and thus he is not entitled to a presumption of exposure to herbicides. The Board also found that there was no direct evidence linking the veteran's diagnosed diabetes to his military service.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than November 18, 1999 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy is denied.