Diabetes decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, which is now granted. The Board finds it at least as likely as not that the veteran's diabetes had its onset during a period of honorable service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, or residuals of a cerebrovascular accident. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of need for regular aid and attendance was denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefits based on his inability to perform daily activities without assistance.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurring warranted a 30 percent disability rating, effective February 18, 2005.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no medical evidence linking the condition to mustard gas exposure or his service-connected gastrointestinal disability.

The Board denied service connection for herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine and recurrent hernia. Service connection was also denied for diabetes mellitus including complications of diabetes mellitus and an eye disorder.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus does not require insulin or the regulation of activities, and thus a higher rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred as a result of his active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the September 1993 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's requests to reopen his service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease with hypertension.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent from August 29, 2003 to January 15, 2004 and a rating in excess of 20 percent from January 15, 2004.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but he received a TDIU with an effective date of February 13, 2004. The decision is mixed as it granted the earlier effective date for the TDIU.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and updated treatment records.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The veteran's initial evaluation for Type II diabetes mellitus was granted at a 20 percent rating, effective October 30, 2001. The condition requires insulin and restricted diet but does not require avoidance of strenuous activities.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The right knee disability has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling since March 2004, but the veteran contends for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected, and her diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The right thumb disability has been granted as service-connected but the initial evaluation remains at 20%.

The veteran's claims of secondary service connection for various conditions, including circulatory disorder, glaucoma, hypertension, kidney disease, interventricular bleeding, residuals of a stroke, and seizure disorder are being granted as they are presumed to be related to his diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure during the Vietnam War.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities as a result of service or service-connected conditions, and therefore denied all claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus and service connection for bilateral cataracts, finding no evidence to support either claim.