Diabetes decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional VA and private medical records, as well as a VA examination. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides and noting that DM was not shown during active service or until many years after separation.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including skin cancer of the ear and neck, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, hyperlipidemia, and Type II Diabetes Mellitus, all presumed to be related to exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link between his service and these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration due to a recent private medical report submitted by the veteran. The original decision denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II.

The Board has granted service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease as secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The veteran also received increased ratings for his peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and coronary artery disease, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes with retinopathy and nephropathy, as well as for hypertensive heart disease, were denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after the veteran's period of active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 10, 2002 for the grant of a non-service-connected pension due to lack of evidence showing entitlement arose before that date.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the veteran's current heart disorder is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2. As such, the benefit of doubt is granted, and the claim for secondary service connection for a heart disorder is granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in the loss of use of his lower extremities, which qualifies him for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance and necessary adaptive equipment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his active service.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus and residuals of left shoulder injury, status-post reconstructive surgery. The veteran was also awarded a separate rating for his scar secondary to the left shoulder injury. Additionally, the Board found that the veteran's kidney disease and pneumonia are service connected.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was granted a higher initial evaluation of 40 percent effective from November 17, 2003. His peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities were also granted increased evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding whether nonalcoholic sclerotic hepatitis, diabetes mellitus, or liver, spleen, and anemic condition are related to service-connected leishmaniasis.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain medical opinions and records related to the veteran's diabetes mellitus, including potential herbicide exposure. The appeal is pending further action.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus related to his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus and service connection for bladder cancer due to herbicide exposure. The veteran served in Vietnam, but his bladder cancer was not found to be related to herbicide exposure.

The VA has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus type II does not require regulation of activities, and therefore, a higher rating is not warranted.