Diabetes decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of service in Vietnam and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to herbicide exposure.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected diabetes mellitus and service connection for residuals of status post open arthrotomy of the left knee with calf abscess.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records, including from the VA hospitals in New Orleans and Washington D.C., as well as Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The case will be reviewed again after this information is obtained.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such a nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the issues related to special monthly compensation, increased rating for diabetes mellitus, and reopening claims for PTSD, hearing loss, skin condition, and residuals of injury to hand, thigh, and leg.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for type II diabetes mellitus as of April 1, 2003. The effective date for the award of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is set at January 8, 1997.

The Board denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating since October 10, 2001.

The veteran is seeking service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's current CAD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus as secondary to hepatitis, finding that there was no evidence prior to August 24, 1999 that reasonably raised a claim for such benefits.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been rated based on their current manifestations, with no additional ratings granted.

The veteran's service-connected MHWM is found to aggravate his diabetic retinopathy with macular edema, which was first diagnosed years after service. The other eye disorders are not related to military service or already service connected MHWM.,There is no direct evidence of a heart disorder in service and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that it is related to service-connected MHWM.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus Type II is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, and the claim for an increased rating has been granted.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death (acute coronary insufficiency) was not service-connected, and his diabetes mellitus did not manifest within one year of discharge. The Board denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if current diabetes mellitus is related to service and for evaluations of hypertension and Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure and an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for his service-connected low back disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spondylosis, osteoarthritis of the left knee, right hand disorder, left shoulder impingement, skin rash, diabetes mellitus, sarcoma, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's appeals for an increased evaluation of type II diabetes mellitus and service connection for a heart disorder and COPD have been dismissed due to the veteran withdrawing his appeal regarding these issues prior to the promulgation of a decision.