Diabetes decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, diabetes mellitus as a result of service exposure to Agent Orange, impotency due to his service-connected conditions or hypertension. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to herbicide exposure. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for shortness of breath and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus. The Board found that there was no evidence to support direct service connection for shortness of breath, as it did not occur during service or be related to Agent Orange exposure. For diabetes mellitus, the Board noted that the veteran's disability does not require restriction of activities and thus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the severance of service connection for the veteran's diabetes mellitus effective as of November 1, 2003, was improper. The case is now remanded to determine an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus from March 1, 2002 to November 24, 2002. He is not entitled to higher ratings.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and hypertension were denied. The claim to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for hypertension was granted, but the new evidence did not establish that the veteran had hypertension during service or within one year after discharge. Service connection for a spinal disorder, multiple joint disorders, right shoulder disorder, and laceration over the left eye are all denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, hiatal hernia, hypertension with history of congestive heart failure associated with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU rating.

The Board found that the veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus was not exposed to herbicides, making it impossible to grant service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification on whether the veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder has been rated at 30 percent since May 8, 2001.,The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II associated with herbicide exposure has been rated at 20 percent since July 9, 2001.

The Board has granted service connection for pes planus and dismissed the remaining issues of appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or due to service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed cardiovascular disorder, respiratory disorder, diabetes, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and back disorder are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a compensation examination.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA decision and evidence, scheduling a VA examination to assess employment limitations due to service-connected disabilities, and ensuring the claims file contains all relevant information.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease (hypertension and coronary artery disease), and a respiratory disorder. The evidence did not support a finding of exposure to herbicides or other presumptive conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions within one year after discharge from service or for many years thereafter. The medical evidence did not show a direct relationship between his in-service vaccinations and his current health issues.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not incur diabetes mellitus or hypertension as a result of his military service and therefore denied both claims.

The veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus and for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance has been dismissed due to his death.