Diabetes decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran did not serve in Vietnam and therefore is not entitled to presumptive service connection for his respiratory disorders or diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The claims are denied.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in service and did not manifest within a year following separation from service. The preponderance of evidence is against finding a connection to active service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings of diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and impotence have been granted. The current ratings are 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, 20 percent each for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and noncompensable for impotence.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have peripheral neuropathy or diabetic retinopathy, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to missing service medical records and incomplete treatment history. The claims will be further developed before being decided.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 25, 2003, for service connection and a 20% disability rating for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral foot disability is not service-connected due to it being attributed to hyperhydrosis of the feet secondary to diabetes mellitus. The scar on the right third finger was also denied as there was no evidence linking it to service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil was denied. The claims for increased evaluations for diabetes mellitus and CAD, as well as TDIU, were also denied.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his diabetes requires insulin and a restricted diet but does not require regulation of activities.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus during service or within one year after separation, and denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an extension of the delimiting date for use of VA educational assistance was denied because there is no evidence that his diabetes prevented him from initiating or completing a program of education.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus was denied as his condition did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting information regarding the veteran's duty assignments and exposure during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to Agent Orange exposure and was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice and the need to obtain additional medical records. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to new evidence showing a current diagnosis. However, the claim remains denied as there is no direct evidence linking the veteran's diabetes mellitus to his period of active service or to medication prescribed for his seizure disorder.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and obesity due to an in-service history of gestational diabetes and a weight problem, respectively. The veteran will be afforded appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service and denied his claim.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for service connection due to potential issues with verifying his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims will be reconsidered after further development.