Diabetes decisions — 2005

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for diabetic retinopathy, effective from April 27, 2001.

The veteran's multiple non-service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The VA denied an initial evaluation higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II, as the veteran's condition is currently under control with multiple medications and a restricted diet.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred during military service or within a year thereafter, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for an increased initial disability evaluation for his service-connected diabetes mellitus and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded due to the need for further development. The case will be returned to the RO for additional consideration.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The current ratings for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and right wrist fracture are 50%, 10%, and 10% respectively.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he asserts is due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service, has been denied as there is no evidence of active service in the Republic of Vietnam and no objective medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a sleep disorder. The veteran's claim of service connection remains denied.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus disabilities are found to be so severe that they preclude him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability, and her service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is manifested by tenderness on palpation without functional limitation. The initial evaluations for tinea versicolor, polynephritis, and tinnitus are denied as well.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 27, 2002 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The criteria for establishing an earlier effective date were not met as it was not factually ascertainable that the veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him totally disabled within one year prior to September 27, 2002.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death (pneumonia, congestive heart failure due to atherosclerotic heart disease, and diabetes mellitus) is not related to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred during active service due to his Vietnam-era service, and he is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, finding that no informal claim was made prior to April 17, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there is no current medical diagnosis of the condition and thus not incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and secondary service connection for heart disease and hypertension as they were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he claims is due to exposure to Agent Orange during his naval service. The VA has not verified all of the specific instances of Agent Orange exposure and needs to conduct further development including obtaining records from the Fresno VAMC, verifying the veteran's accounts with the Naval Historical Center, and ensuring that all relevant medical records are obtained.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective August 16, 2001. The RO also granted a 30 percent rating for coronary artery disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus, effective February 20, 2004.,The veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent, and his left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 10 percent.