Diabetes decisions — 2004

The Board found that the veteran's Haglund's deformity and Achilles tendinitis of the left foot were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence linking it to his military service. The other conditions (eye disability, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes) are denied due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between these disabilities and service.

The veteran's compensation service-connected diabetes mellitus was improperly discontinued, and the award of compensation at a 20 percent rate is restored effective August 1, 1989, subject to reduction due to incarceration.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased initial disability rating of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus with impotence and trace evidence of diabetic retinopathy, finding that his condition met the criteria for a 20 percent rating under the provisions of Diagnostic Code 7913.

The Board has determined that the service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed substantially to the veteran's death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was aggravated by his second period of active duty, and service connection is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's current diabetic disorder is due to pancreatitis secondary to alcoholism, and not related to his service or any incident therein, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection due to exposure to ionizing radiation is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is being remanded due to unclear work history, need for additional medical records, and the possibility of other disabilities affecting his ability to work.

The Board granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to exposure to Agent Orange, effective as of the date of receipt of the claim (February 6, 1987).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus and a prior effective date, finding that neither claim could be granted as VA regulations do not allow earlier effective dates for service connection based on presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated as a result of exposure to herbicides during service, nor may it be presumed that this claimed disability was incurred or aggravated as a result of exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetic retinopathy was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to his diabetes mellitus, which was found to have contributed substantially and materially to his death. The diabetes is rated at 100 percent disabling.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluation for hyperthyroidism with secondary hypothyroidism and service connection for obesity, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected hyperthyroidism with secondary hypothyroidism.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertensive vascular disease, and diabetes mellitus as secondary to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic fever due to incomplete medical opinions and need for further development.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and ratings for his service-connected conditions were granted, with the PTSD rating being increased to 30 percent effective October 25, 2002.

The veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to Agent Orange was denied because there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or to any herbicide exposure.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral pes cavus and assigned a 50 percent rating, effective from September 29, 1999. The veteran's claim for increased rating for the service-connected bilateral pes cavus was denied.

The veteran's death during a VA hospitalization was not caused by carelessness, negligence, or similar fault on the part of the VA. The cause of death was intractable pulmonary edema due to end-stage congestive heart failure.