Diabetes decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bleeding of the ears and anxiety disorder. The decision also addressed his claims for thyroid condition, anemia, diabetes mellitus, and pain problems due to herbicide exposure, but did not reach a final determination on these issues as they were referred to the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of the appellant's claims, particularly regarding his exposure to herbicides and the relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Board also found that there is no direct evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disorder and diabetes mellitus as a consequence of herbicide exposure, finding no evidence of these conditions during or after his military service. The Board also found that hypertension was not secondary to diabetes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus with resultant amputation of the left great toe and numbness of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that his complications are not shown by competent medical evidence to be proximately due to or the result of VA treatment or VA medical personnel's failure to diagnose and treat diabetes mellitus at an earlier time.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA examinations to assess the current severity of the veteran's service-connected conditions and determining whether TDIU is warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and diabetes mellitus on a secondary basis as these conditions are not considered disabilities for which VA compensation is payable.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and no direct link between his current condition and service. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 24, 1993, for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to inservice exposure to Agent Orange. The earliest clinical evidence of diabetes was in April 1985.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or upon housebound status was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus is granted. The issue of service connection for a right foot disorder, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, remains pending and will be addressed further.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and determining an effective date earlier than July 25, 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board also determined that diabetes mellitus, which contributed to her death, was not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cardiomyopathy with ventricular arrhythmias, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and congestive heart failure. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hypoglycemia with black outs were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the medical evidence is balanced regarding whether the appellant's diabetes mellitus is related to his service-connected heart disease and hypertension. Therefore, with resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus requires daily insulin injections and a restricted diet, but his activities are not restricted. The VA finds that the current rating of 20% is appropriate as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus requires a restricted diet and insulin, but does not require regulation of activities. The claim to reopen his PTSD service connection is supported by new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (unestablished facts include whether the claimed stressors occurred during active service).

The veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension was set at August 17, 1993. A 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus prior to February 3, 1998 is granted.