Diabetes decisions — 2005

The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses for the claimed conditions and concluded that none were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that a 20 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability.,The RO granted service connection for diabetes and assigned a 20 percent evaluation, effective November 27, 2000. The veteran appealed this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further development, including obtaining treatment records from healthcare providers and asking the veteran about his hospitalization history. The VA will also provide a VA examination if the appellant can submit evidence linking current diabetes mellitus to service.

The veteran's claim of a higher disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded to the RO for further action including scheduling an RO hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated during active service, and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board found that the veteran did not have service in Vietnam and was therefore not exposed to herbicides. The preponderance of evidence indicated that diabetes mellitus, type II, with visual complications, was not incurred during military service or due to any inservice exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and assigned a 20 percent evaluation for diabetes mellitus, effective July 9, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ampullary carcinoma, glaucoma, and uveitis as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The claim for service connection for an eye disability (glaucoma and uveitis) was not addressed in the August 1976 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for depression and diabetes mellitus, as well as the evaluations for left shoulder disability. The claims of increased evaluation were also remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence linking it to his military service or claimed exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at LRMC on November 3 and 4, 2003 were found to meet the criteria for payment or reimbursement under VA regulations. The condition was deemed emergent due to her known history of hypertension and diabetes, as well as severe symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, including as a result of exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and its complications due to exposure to herbicides is denied as he did not serve in Vietnam and there was no evidence of Agent Orange exposure. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence established that the veteran was not exposed to Agent Orange in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the need for VCAA compliance, and thus remands the case back to the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diabetic retinopathy and his erectile dysfunction is currently rated as noncompensable.,Service connection for both conditions was denied, with the erectile dysfunction receiving a noncompensable rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was denied as secondary to his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus was granted with an effective date of July 20, 2001. The veteran requested a retroactive effective date but this was denied due to the one-year rule after the May 8, 2001 liberalizing regulation.,Service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was granted with an effective date of October 22, 2002. The veteran requested a retroactive effective date but this was denied due to the one-year rule after the May 8, 2001 liberalizing regulation.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder and diabetes mellitus cause aggravation of his heart disease, representing approximately one-quarter of the current disability. The Board has granted service connection for this portion of his arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a skin disorder, but has not decided whether these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further adjudication.