Diabetes decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's current headaches and diabetic retinopathy are not related to his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus, have led to additional disabilities such as skin disability, retinopathy, cardiac disability, erectile dysfunction, and PTSD. The appeals for increased ratings are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD with secondary alcoholism.

The veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed due to exposure to herbicides in service. The claim for hepatitis C remains pending as the evidence does not establish a clear connection with service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of both feet. The veteran's service-connected conditions were characterized by their current manifestations without any additional complications or restrictions.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a statement from his physician regarding regulated physical activity and issuing a supplemental statement of the case on the issue of increased initial rating for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, arthritis, and hypertension. The veteran's current conditions were not related to his active military service.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus, finding that the veteran's symptoms have not required regulation of diet or restrictions on activities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for service connection, as well as his claim for a prostate disability secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent, hearing loss and tinnitus were not granted earlier effective dates.

The Board has determined that the veteran's neuropathy of the right lower extremity is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, but there is no evidence of neuropathy in the left lower extremity or upper extremities. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and therefore denied both the claim for cause of death and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under section 1318.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy warrants a 10 percent initial rating, effective July 26, 2004.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of VA examinations and obtaining outstanding outpatient treatment reports.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II requires insulin and a restricted diet. However, the VA examiner found that his activities are not regulated due to this condition, but rather due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As regulation of activities is required for a 40% rating under Diagnostic Code 7913, the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 is denied as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the condition did not manifest within a year after discharge.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, finding that he currently requires insulin and a restricted diet but not regulated activities.

The Board found that the maximum amount allowable by law for burial expenses has been paid due to the veteran's death being related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death. The issue regarding reopening the claim is also denied.