Diabetes decisions — 2006

The veteran seeks service connection for various conditions allegedly related to exposure to ionizing radiation during military service. He also wishes to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a hernia disorder. The claims are being remanded due to the unavailability of his service medical and personnel records, as well as other pertinent treatment records.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not related to any injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service, including his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied reopening the claim for service connection for a lung disability due to asbestos exposure and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent disabling. The evidence does not support a higher rating as the condition requires insulin and a restricted diet but no regulation of daily activities.

The Board found no evidence of current diabetes mellitus and denied the veteran's claim for service connection, concluding that there is not a link between his claimed condition and his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are being REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration if appropriate.

The veteran's cause of death was metastatic prostate cancer, with other significant conditions including atrial fibrillation, deep venous thrombosis (legs), non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and cerebral vascular accidents. The Board found that the service-connected disability did not cause or hasten his death, and there is no evidence linking the veteran's fatal disease processes to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected diabetic retinopathy does not warrant a disability rating greater than 10 percent at any time since the effective date of the grant of service connection.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including diabetes, hypertension, left arm/hand hemiparesis, and a substance abuse disorder, do not permanently prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. As he failed to report for a VA medical examination without good cause, his claim is denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II associated with herbicide exposure. However, the VA has not made official attempts to verify whether or not the USS Kearsarge carried herbicide drums during his deployment in Vietnam waters.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, finding that his condition did not require a restricted diet or activity regulation due to diabetes.

The VA has denied a higher initial disability rating for diabetes mellitus, finding that the veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his current treatment and lack of complications.

The Board has determined that the appellant is in need of aid and attendance due to her physical and mental incapacity, which requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect herself from hazards and dangers incident to her daily environment. Aid and attendance benefits are therefore granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and a chronic acquired disorder manifested by dizziness, both claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Board found no current disability of either condition and noted that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that her service-connected essential tremor did not contribute to the veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral arterial vascular disease and small cell lymphoma of the lacrimal lens, postoperative as secondary to diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. Service connection for hypertension was denied as not being secondary to diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus with nephropathy is pending.

The Board granted a higher initial rating of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, finding that the veteran requires a restricted diet and takes a hypoglycemic agent (Glyburide). The other issues regarding service connection for bilateral eye disability and foot disability were not addressed as they are separate claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostatitis, finding no evidence to support these conditions as being incurred or aggravated by his military service. The nervous condition claim was also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim that her husband filed a service connection claim for Type II diabetes as a result of exposure to herbicides prior to his death. The appeal was not about service connection at all.