Diabetes decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer is granted. The veteran was rated 20 percent disabled by diabetes mellitus type II, based on the need for an oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet to control DM-2.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence to support these claims. The veteran's current disabilities are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for hearing loss, hyperlipidemia, vision disorder, hypertension, heart disorder, and diabetes mellitus type II. The RO found no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service medical records and private treatment records. The cause of death claim is currently in a 'unknown' status due to lack of information.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a stomach disorder, right knee arthritis, and diabetes mellitus. The conditions were found to not be related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected hemorrhoids was denied due to the lack of evidence of irreducible large or thrombotic hemorrhoids with excessive redundant tissue.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to service, and it was not shown to be related to chemical exposure during service. The claim for eligibility for outpatient dental treatment based on a claimed dental disorder was also denied.,The veteran's two front teeth were broken during service but were filled after 180 days of active duty, which is considered normal at entry.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for residuals of a traumatic head injury and denied the claim for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service, including any exposure to herbicides. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that he did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not be granted presumptive service connection based on exposure to herbicides. The Board also found no direct evidence of diabetes within one year after discharge.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 31, 2001 for service connection of diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, eye disability, headaches, and psychiatric disability (depression), were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus. The claim for hearing loss was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, while the claim for diabetes mellitus did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including PTSD, diabetes, and various musculoskeletal conditions. The RO is instructed to issue a statement of the case for these claims and afford the veteran an opportunity to perfect his appeals.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for Special Monthly Pension (SMP) based on needing regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound due to his multiple disabilities.,The veteran had hypertension, heart problems, hearing loss, depression, diabetes, and arthritis. However, he did not have a single disability rated at 100% that would meet the requirement for SMP based on need for A&A.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, pes planus, and gout affecting the feet are all service-connected. The veteran is presumed to have been sound at the time of his entry into active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred as a result of exposure to herbicides during service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 15, 1998 for the grant of service connection for diabetes insipidus was granted. The earlier claim for service connection was received on November 9, 1979 and was not adjudicated by the RO at that time.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine if the veteran's stroke was caused by or had its origins in his military service.