Diabetes decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and hearing.

The Board denied service connection for chronic diabetes mellitus and a compensable evaluation for tinea versicolor, finding that the veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, and denied his increased rating claims for traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, right shoulder, left knee, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or contributed to by any service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and dysthymic disorder. The gastro-intestinal disorder is presumed to be secondary to the service-connected PTSD. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus II, lower back disability, and left knee disability.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II requires insulin and a restricted diet, which warrants a 40 percent disability evaluation.

The veteran's claim for retroactive VA compensation due to receiving military retirement pay instead of VA compensation is denied as there is no legal provision warranting the award.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to inadequate VCAA notice and to obtain outstanding VA outpatient treatment records.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus was manifested by dietary restriction and either insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent prior to November 5, 2003. The disability did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 20 percent.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection and rating of disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, right lower extremity, peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is remanded due to unclear determination of his mobility issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of discussion regarding efforts made to obtain an expert reviewer's opinion related to the veteran's diabetes mellitus claim under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and PTSD is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and hearing loss due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a skin disorder, both claimed as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange. The denial of these claims is final.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, with hypertension and erectile dysfunction have been denied. The VA has not assigned a separate rating for hypertension or erectile dysfunction.

The Board finds that the veteran's depression is service-connected, and his diabetes mellitus, type II, preexisted service. The Board also finds no evidence of current bilateral eye disability for VA purposes.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Board found that the cause of death (ARDS) was not caused by or related to service-connected conditions, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.