Diabetes decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by active service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of June 19, 1995 for service connection of diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to pending claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and reopening of a service connection claim for T-9 paraplegia with lack of bowel control as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The veteran seeks service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, which is presumed due to Agent Orange exposure. The case has been remanded to determine if the veteran served in Vietnam during his active duty.

The veteran's appeal involves the evaluation of his service-connected diabetic gastroparesis and the propriety of severing his service connection for this condition. The case is being remanded to allow further development.

The Board found that the severance of service connection for diabetes mellitus and arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertension was proper, and restoration of those grants of service connection is not warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and dysthymia, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or presumed Agent Orange exposure. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to support a claim of aggravation of pre-existing dysthymia.

The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus and related conditions, including hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, rectal abscess, retinopathy, and renal insufficiency. The claim will be remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and for DIC pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318(b) due to insufficient evidence linking any service-connected disability to the veteran's death.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence does not show that the veteran's diabetes requires regulation of activities, and thus an evaluation in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and denied both claims for service connection for the cause of death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, or prostate cancer that is related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of any connection between the appellant's current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for residuals of a brain concussion.

The Board finds that the veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to have been incurred during service due to herbicide exposure. However, there is no evidence linking his prostate disorder to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding that his diabetes did not have its onset during active duty and was not related to military service.

The Board has granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that it requires insulin and a restricted diet. The veteran's PTSD claim is also addressed.

The VA denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, finding that the veteran's condition required daily oral hypoglycemic medication and a restricted diet without insulin or activity restrictions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, currently evaluated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is related to his service, specifically his exposure to herbicides during active duty in Guam. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent disabling due to the need for insulin and a restricted diet. The VA has not found any restriction of activities that would warrant an increased rating.