Diabetes decisions — 2007

The Board found no evidence of service connection for diabetes mellitus or hypertension, and denied both claims due to lack of in-service diagnosis and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain the appellant's service records from his National Guard service and any treatment records related to his diabetes mellitus. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or causation.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure were denied. The reduction of the hearing loss rating from 60% to noncompensable was upheld.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a kidney condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and left knee strain due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease and coronary artery disease, as well as his increased evaluations for allergic rhinitis and tonsillitis. The Board found that these conditions were not related to his service-connected disabilities or due to exposure to herbicides.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the VA medical care did not result in additional disability or death. The claim for DIC based on 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy and vascular problems and erectile dysfunction, all secondary to herbicide exposure. The veteran was not granted any of his claims.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The claims of service connection for a skin disability and back disability remain denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen them.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development to determine if he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on regulation of activities. The veteran was also denied a separate compensable rating for his diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has determined that the veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities. However, he is not substantially confined to his dwelling or immediate premises by reason of these conditions.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current diabetes mellitus to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy does not warrant a separate compensable rating, as it is currently included in his 20% rating for diabetes mellitus, Type II.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, finding that the current evaluation of 20 percent accurately reflects the extent of his disability and there is no basis for a higher evaluation.

The RO granted service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure, effective February 23, 2001. Service connection was denied for a skin disability and peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for mitral valve regurgitation, gout, and hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The only competent opinion on the question of a medical relationship between each condition and the service-connected diabetes weighed against the claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that chloracne was not incurred or aggravated by service and is unrelated to military service, including presumed herbicide exposure during his service in the Republic of Vietnam. Peripheral neuropathy of the right leg and left leg are not shown to be related to military service, including presumed herbicide exposure. Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Sjogren's syndrome were not incurred or aggravated by service and are unrelated to military service. Arthritis of the legs and feet is not shown to be otherwise related to service or a service-connected disorder. Hypertension was not incurred in service but is aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including providing VCAA notice and considering new evidence submitted by the veteran.