Diabetes decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20 percent assigned, as his condition is currently managed with oral hypoglycemic agents and a restricted diet.

The Board found no evidence of a service connection for diabetes mellitus or arthritis in the back, and denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' Insurance (RH) was denied because he did not meet the standard of 'good health,' as his nonservice-connected disabilities, including arthritis and obesity, exceeded the allowed threshold.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a right great toe disorder, impotence, and prostatitis are denied as there is no competent evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and provide a new opinion regarding whether the veteran's diabetes mellitus began during service or is related to any incident of service.

The Board denied service connection for the residuals of a neck injury and for numbness and tingling of the fingers, both on a direct basis. The claim for numbness and tingling of the fingers as secondary to diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus does not warrant a higher evaluation as it only requires a restricted diet and no regulation of activities or insulin.

The VA has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and assigned a disability rating of 20 percent effective April 24, 2001. The veteran's diabetes is currently treated with oral hypoglycemic agents.

The Board denied service connection for pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus, with the latter being claimed as secondary to pancreatitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, arthritis of multiple joints, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence showing these conditions began during or were otherwise related to his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's current diabetes mellitus was at least as likely as not aggravated by the thiazide diuretics prescribed for his service-connected glomerulonephritis with hypertension and abnormal EKG disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of presumptive service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange or other specified conditions.

The Board has determined that the original grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus associated with Agent Orange exposure was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and thus the RO properly severed this service connection.

The veteran's representative argues for a higher initial evaluation of 100 percent for diabetes mellitus, citing multiple complications. The Board finds additional examination and treatment records are needed to determine the severity.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed respiratory disorder and denied his claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has granted separate evaluations of 50 percent for the veteran's right (major) upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, 40 percent for his left (minor) upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, and 20 percent each for his right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy. The evaluations are effective as of February 9, 2005.