Diabetes decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetic retinopathy from February 5, 1992 to March 9, 2003 is denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus with impotence and diabetic sensory peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities have been rated based on their severity, resulting in a 40 percent rating for each condition since April 22, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty and is not etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected Diabetes Mellitus (DM) can aggravate his diagnosed Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), thus granting service connection for PVD as secondary to DM.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for type I diabetes (claimed as Type II) and secondary service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetic retinopathy, and renal insufficiency. The evidence did not support a direct or presumptive link to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II warrants a disability rating of 20 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating as the veteran is able to perform normal activities of daily living and his work without difficulty.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lower back shrapnel fragments, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities or diabetic retinopathy, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no competent medical evidence showing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, but granted separate 10% ratings for diabetic neuropathy of both lower extremities.

The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was rated at 60% from August 5, 2003 onwards, reflecting a significant improvement in his condition as evidenced by normal EKG results and an estimated left ventricular ejection fraction of 48-61%. The peripheral vascular disease and diabetes mellitus were also granted ratings.

The veteran withdrew his appeal on several issues related to disability ratings for different conditions.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board finds that the veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's hypertension was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have any of the claimed conditions during service or within the initial post-service year, and there is no evidence showing they were incurred due to his military service. The appeal for accrued benefits is denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of carcinoma of the kidney, finding that there was no evidence linking the cancer to his diabetes or any other in-service event. The Board also found that renal cancer is not recognized as being etiologically related to exposure to herbicides used in Vietnam.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and a heart condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for a heart condition. The Board also found that there was no evidence linking the current type II diabetes mellitus to service.