Diabetes decisions — 2006

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found that none of the claimed conditions are related to his period of active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 17, 2005 for his TDIU due to lack of factual ascertainability prior to that date and because he did not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional VA treatment records from before May 8, 2001. The veteran is seeking an effective date earlier than June 25, 2002 for service connection of Type II diabetes mellitus as a result of exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II does not warrant a higher initial disability rating than 20 percent due to its current manifestations.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO and sending notice of the hearing to his current address.

The veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board and RO have previously denied service connection for various conditions, including a low back disability, diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, right shoulder disorder, bilateral foot disorder, right leg disorder, and right side of the body disorders. The most recent denial was in March 1998 by the RO, which found no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected diabetes, but granted an effective date of May 8, 2001 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for fibromyalgia, vertigo, otitis externa in the right ear, diabetes mellitus type II, primary open angle glaucoma, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The appeals were all denied as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and Bell's palsy as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to any of the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus (type II), Sweet's syndrome, decreased visual acuity of each eye, and residuals of diabetic acidosis (lactic acidosis) are not supported by competent medical evidence.

The veteran's initial schedular evaluation for diabetes mellitus, type II was granted at 20 percent. The Board found that the current disability does not warrant a higher rating under VA's rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy as claimed due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) during service in Korea. The evidence did not show the veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was incurred during military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claim for hepatitis B is pending as it requires additional development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his diabetic retinopathy and diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and his PTSD is rated at 30 percent. Both conditions are evaluated based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence of Vietnam service and thus no presumption of herbicide exposure. The claim is also not granted on a direct basis due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no service-connected disability contributed to his death.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, malaria residuals, and hepatitis residuals were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities or exposure to herbicides during his service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.