Diabetes decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of diabetes mellitus, type II; kidney cancer; bladder cancer; or macular degeneration in service or for many years thereafter, and no competent evidence of a nexus between these disorders and his period of active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board determined that the veteran did not have service in Vietnam, and thus could not establish entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder or diabetes mellitus based on exposure to Agent Orange. The VA medical records provided no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year after discharge.

The veteran's cause of death was listed as coronary artery disease, but the VA examiner found that rheumatic heart disease was a contributory factor. The case is being remanded for further review and clarification.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active military service and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board denied increased ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as diabetes mellitus. The veteran's conditions are currently rated at 60 percent each.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, Parkinson's Disease, hyperlipidemia, and PTSD as they were not incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for diabetic neuropathy of the right leg effective from February 10, 2005. The veteran's condition is characterized by intermittent foot drop and decreased sensation in the dorsum of the right foot.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, associated with exposure to herbicide due to a lack of in-country service in Vietnam and insufficient evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II, and coronary artery disease as secondary to herbicide exposure. The RO had already granted these benefits with an effective date of April 30, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted based on his service in Vietnam and the presumption of exposure to herbicides. The secondary service connections for blindness, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy are also granted as they are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of severe complications or episodes of ketoacidosis/hypoglycemic reactions warranting a higher rating. The Board also found that the veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus prior to July 16, 1998 and since that date was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The veteran's medical condition, due to multiple service-connected disabilities, resulted in him being unable to walk without assistance and requiring a wheelchair. The Board finds that his loss of use of both feet meets the criteria for SMC based on accrued benefits purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to exposure to Agent Orange, finding no evidence of in-service exposure and no link between current diabetes and military service.

The Board granted service connection for end stage renal disease and diabetes mellitus due to in-service herbicide exposure, but denied effective dates prior to March 16, 2001 as the claims were pending during the period when the regulation allowing such was not yet in effect.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for PTSD, hepatitis C, and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support reopening the claim for PTSD or establishing service connection for hepatitis C or diabetes mellitus.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, concluding that there was no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange and insufficient medical evidence linking his current condition to military service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and denied entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, due to lack of medical evidence linking any disability to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, hypertension, and an increased evaluation for non-insulin diabetes. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service or post-service onset of these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was granted, with a rating of 30 percent.