Diabetes decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus warrants an initial evaluation of 40 percent, effective from the date of service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disease, gallbladder disease, and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated by service. The conditions are considered to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and seeking VA treatment records. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus (secondary to Hepatitis C) and hematuria are also being considered.

The veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his diabetes mellitus. The RO has referred the case back to the VA for further development and examination.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and mild diabetic nephropathy are currently evaluated at 20 percent. The Board denied an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus type II, as the evidence does not support a need for regulation of activities.

The Board has found that the veteran's asthma warrants a 30 percent rating, but his overall disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The hypertension and diabetes mellitus with adhesive capsulitis of the right shoulder issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to herbicide exposure due to a lack of evidence showing active service in Vietnam and no direct evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand and thus no presumption applies. The claims were also denied as there was no direct evidence linking the conditions to service.

The veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he claims is related to his service-connected PTSD and the resulting alcoholism and alcoholic pancreatitis. The issues of secondary service connection for both alcoholic pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus are inextricably intertwined and must be resolved together.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The claim for a left eye disability is pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, skin disorder, PTSD, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The claim for PTSD was not substantiated due to lack of corroborated stressor. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was also denied as there was no evidence linking it to military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral arm nerve damage and a disability rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease. The claim for an increased rating for type II diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The Board denied all service connection claims and increased rating claims, finding that the veteran did not meet the criteria for any of the conditions listed.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and PTSD. The veteran's diabetes mellitus was not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. His PTSD was rated as 30% effective May 24, 2002, and increased to 70% effective August 5, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining flight logs and other relevant records. The veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus is based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam-era service aboard ship in the territorial waters of Vietnam.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his active military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hyperlipidemia was denied as the condition is not a disability for VA compensation purposes. The Board also notes that further examination may be needed to determine if hypertension and hiatal hernia are related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for effective dates and service connection, finding that no earlier effective dates were warranted based on the evidence of record. The veteran's arthritis and diabetes mellitus are presumed to be related to his military service due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of diabetes during or shortly after his military service and that it is not otherwise related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and left wrist disability. The evidence did not show current disabilities that met VA criteria or a relationship to military service.