Diabetes decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus existed prior to service and was not aggravated by active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type I is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The issues are whether he is entitled to increased ratings for his coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, both associated with herbicide exposure during service.

The Board found that the objective and competent medical evidence does not show a link between the veteran's current lung disorders, including COPD, and his military service. The VA examiner diagnosed the veteran with COPD due to smoking cigarettes, and did not find any evidence of asbestosis or asbestosis-related conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic retinopathy, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU determination as they preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claims for sensory small fiber neuropathy and nongranular iritis with refractive error and photophobia.

The veteran claims his diabetes mellitus is related to Agent Orange exposure during service at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The case has been remanded for further development of the claim based on VA manual provisions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues are related to initial evaluations for diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, attributing it to chronic pancreatitis rather than exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to insufficient steps taken by the RO to comply with VCAA requirements and incomplete treatment records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, cataracts of the right eye, and erectile dysfunction are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board found no CUE in the October 1984 decision denying service connection for the cause of death, and denied the motion for revision.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, which is currently rated at 40 percent disabling under DC 7913, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating of 60 percent due to lack of episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider. The veteran's diabetes mellitus has been regulated by diet and insulin since at least February 1994, with physical activity being medically restricted since May 2001.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy, currently evaluated at 60 percent.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his symptoms do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent or 10 percent respectively.

The veteran is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA medical examinations.

Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions as there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current disability to active duty service or post-service treatment.

The veteran's death was caused by hypoxia due to pneumonia, which resulted from malnutrition and deconditioning. Diabetes was a significant contributing factor but not service-connected.