Diabetes decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.,The veteran has a permanent loss of use of one hand (left), meeting criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to independently perform daily functions of self-care and to protect himself from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment, warranting special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding no evidence of their onset or association with the veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that the causes of the veteran's death (coronary artery disease, anemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus) are not service-connected.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and assigned an effective date of December 10, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, which was initially granted service connection for in December 2001 and rated at 20 percent, does not warrant a higher rating since it only requires daily insulin treatments and dietary restrictions without needing regulation of activities.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding new and material evidence. The veteran served in Vietnam and was diagnosed with diabetes prior to his military service.,Service connection is granted for additional disabilities (retinopathy, cataracts, neuropathy, kidney failure, hypertension, coronary artery disease, vascular disease, cerebrovascular accident, erectile dysfunction, foot problems, skin conditions) as secondary to the veteran's pre-existing diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation than 40 percent, and his hypertension with proteinuria is evaluated at 30 percent under renal involvement in diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case (SOC) for certain issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation than 40 percent, effective May 8, 2001.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetic retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected diabetic retinopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and proper VCAA notice.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA endocrinologist regarding the effect of cortisone injections on the veteran's diabetes mellitus and whether the service-connected low back disability increased the severity of his diabetes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a bilateral eye disorder, erectile dysfunction, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse. The appeals were based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a stroke, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin disability and impotence are all denied.,There is no current evidence of any disabilities related to the conditions claimed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disorder is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants the claim for secondary service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral eye disability, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, COPD, dental condition, and colitis, were denied as they are not considered radiogenic diseases or presumptively related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with early diabetic nephropathy and erectile dysfunction were denied, as was his claim to reopen a knee disability. His service connection claim for hammertoes was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, prostatitis, and gout. The veteran was assigned a 20% evaluation for diabetes mellitus effective April 2, 2001. He is not entitled to an increased rating for his prostatitis or gout.