Diabetes decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD, hearing loss, or chronic skin infections attributable to military service. The veteran's diabetes mellitus is adequately controlled with medication and diet. His peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities is mild to moderate.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus caused such debilitation as to be a contributory cause of his death. The appellant's claim for DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is moot.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding exposure to Agent Orange and the appropriate evidentiary procedures.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to Agent Orange is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hypertension, as well as his claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus. The VA audiologist opined that the veteran's tinnitus was not related to noise exposure during service, while the private physician in 1995 associated it with sensorineural hearing loss. For hypertension, there is no evidence of its onset within one year post-service and the Board found no direct link to service or diabetes mellitus. The VA examiner concluded that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II, did not begin during service and was not caused by any incident of service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The VA has granted an evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected low back injury and diabetes mellitus, but did not grant any increase in rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about the veteran's exposure to chemicals in service, specifically Trichloroethylene, Technetium, and Dioxin. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, diabetes mellitus, and heart condition (secondary to diabetes mellitus). The decision also noted that the veteran was not provided proper VCAA notice regarding his petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU until September 27, 2002. Therefore, an effective date earlier than September 27, 2002 is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back strain, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus. The July 1976 rating decision denying service connection for low back strain was not challenged on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his diabetes mellitus type II contributed substantially to his fatal pulmonary hypertension.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected type II diabetes mellitus was denied, and his claim of secondary service connection for hypertension was deferred. The RO has separately rated erectile dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy as complications of diabetes but found them not compensable.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the veteran's claimed diabetes mellitus and PTSD. The claim for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of evidence showing a link between the condition and active duty, while the claim for PTSD will be remanded as it involves an issue of in-service stressors.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities, nor does it show that they require regulation of activities.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left ankle sprain, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss as these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found that the veteran did not have pancreatitis during service and denied both his claims for service connection.