Diabetes decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it was not manifested during active duty or within one year of separation from active duty and is not related to service.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 60 percent disabling, which meets the criteria for a complete grant of benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension is not related to his active service, including presumed in-service herbicide exposure. The PTSD claim was also denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the disability and service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have diabetes mellitus, type II and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date remains unchanged.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus associated with herbicide exposure, currently rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, low back disorder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, flatfeet, skin disorder, headaches, nosebleeds, sleep apnea, joint pain, depression with memory loss, sexual dysfunction, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, were denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any incident during service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, polyuria, gastric esophageal reflux disease, and hypertension, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's death was due to pancreatitis, Type I diabetes and anoxic encephalopathy. These conditions were not present in service or related to service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, finding that there was no exposure to Agent Orange and insufficient evidence linking the condition to his service.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for right knee and diabetes mellitus was denied. The RO has combined a 50 percent rating for status post internal derangement of the right knee with residuals and degenerative changes, and a 20 percent rating for instability of the right knee, resulting in a total combined rating of 60 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death was not caused by a service-connected disability.,VA determined that the appellant did not meet the requirements for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding no evidence of direct service connection and noting that he did not serve in Vietnam. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support a presumption based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and chronic microscopic hematuria secondary to the sickle cell trait.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was not incurred during service and is not presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure. The RO granted a 10 percent disability rating for tinea pedis effective April 17, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on loss of use of his left eye with only light perception, finding that the condition did not exist within one year prior to January 29, 2002.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision. The issues of service connection for PTSD and a bilateral foot disability secondary to diabetes mellitus are not before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the veteran's diagnosis of diabetes occurred within four months after his discharge from service. Service connection was denied for elevated liver function tests.

The Board has restored service connection for peripheral neuropathy, which was previously severed due to the veteran's diabetes mellitus. The issues of increased evaluations for knee disabilities and hearing loss remain pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type I, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his conditions did not warrant such ratings based on the evidence of record.