Diabetes decisions — 2007

The veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and are not proximately due to, the result of, or chronically aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board granted an initial evaluation of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus, effective from June 14, 2006. The veteran's diabetes required insulin and a restricted diet since that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The appeals were all denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen the diabetes mellitus claim, no current diagnosis of PTSD, and no legal basis for separate ratings for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, finding that it is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicides while serving along the DMZ in the Republic of South Korea in July 1969.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, respiratory disorder, diabetes mellitus, chronic hives, left breast growth, and left testicular growth were denied as the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his period of active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with diabetic retinopathy, warrants a 20 percent disability rating. The left foot ulcer is rated at its maximum of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7803.

The veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and PTSD were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or combat, and the current conditions are not linked to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and VA examinations to determine service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability secondary to her service-connected diabetes mellitus has been denied. The evidence does not show the presence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability, and there is no medical opinion linking any such disability to her service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, claimed as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a right shoulder injury was denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, heart condition, and erectile dysfunction were denied. Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus with a 20% rating throughout the appeal period. The veteran's peripheral neuropathy conditions are rated based on their severity.

The veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, cataracts, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service or herbicide exposure. Service connection was also denied for hypercholesterolemia because it is not a compensable disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and impotence, as well as his claim for special monthly compensation on account of the loss of use of a creative organ. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his death, caused by rhabdomyolysis, stroke, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, depression, and aggravated diabetes.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain VA medical records from the VAMC in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, tendonitis of the elbows, arthritis and tendonitis of the legs, and arthritis and tendonitis of the feet will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The veteran is granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam. Service connection for a seizure disorder is denied as there is no current evidence of such condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus, a disease presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides during service, significantly contributed to his death from metastatic adenocarcinoma. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for dry mouth and mouth ulcers, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chloracne or other acneform disease, and a skin disease to include lichen simplex chronicus, tinea manum, and tinea pedis. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.