Diabetes decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The veteran's main contention is that his disabilities are causally related to herbicide exposure or other contamination during service. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining the veteran's service personnel records and attempting to verify any allegations of herbicide exposure at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange and no in-service diagnosis or symptoms. The Board also found that the veteran did not serve in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II due to exposure to herbicide agents, as there was no evidence showing a relationship between the condition and service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, which is presumed due to his diabetes mellitus. The Board also found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus contributed to his demise.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as there is no evidence of restricted activities or complications requiring hospitalization.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's congestive heart failure and diabetes mellitus to his military service.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus, finding that the disability more nearly approximates the criteria for a 20 percent rating.

The Board determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus did not begin during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred as a result of herbicide exposure during service in the Republic of Vietnam. His obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and dental problems are not shown to be related to service.

The Board found that diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied the claim. The veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during service is presumed, but there is no evidence of actual exposure based on VA outpatient reports.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus with mild peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet is currently rated at 20 percent.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 40 percent since December 22, 2004.,Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 40 percent since December 22, 2004.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is currently rated at 20 percent since December 22, 2004.,Peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is currently rated at 30 percent since December 22, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, fatigue manifested by chronic fatigue syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. The evidence did not show a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Type II diabetes, with associated retinopathy and chronic renal failure, is more likely than not related to her gestational diabetes during service.

The Board found that the causes of the veteran's death (sepsis, end-stage renal disease due to diabetes mellitus) were not caused or substantially contributed by his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent since January 27, 2003. The rating remains denied for the period from July 9, 2001, through January 26, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his diabetes mellitus and service connection for hypertension, as well as his claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ. The veteran was not granted any new disability ratings or benefits.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of Type II diabetes mellitus was denied as the effective date cannot be earlier than September 12, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent due to the requirement for an oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet but not insulin.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused or contributed substantially or materially to cause by service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.