Diabetes decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy, thus granting service connection for hypertension secondary to these conditions.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluations of diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and post-traumatic stress disorder were denied as the symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran did not have service in Vietnam and thus could not establish exposure to herbicides. Diabetes mellitus, Type II, was not shown during service or within one year of separation, nor is there evidence linking it to service. Hypertension was not diagnosed until after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing medical records.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need of regular aid and attendance or her housebound status is denied as she does not meet the criteria for either condition.

The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he claims is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining VA and private medical records, Social Security Administration records, and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left ankle disorder related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The diabetes rating issue is also denied.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II associated with herbicide exposure is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The other conditions have not warranted higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or any other herbicide. The diagnosis was made decades after service and there is no credible evidence supporting a link between the veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins and residuals of diabetes mellitus, finding that these conditions are not related to his military service or service-connected disabilities. The increased disability rating claims have also been denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to exposure to Agent Orange has been dismissed because the veteran passed away during the appeal process.

The veteran's hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, hypothyroidism, and chronic fatigue syndrome are not service-connected as they have no direct link to his military service. High cholesterol is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to a known clinical diagnosis or an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension did not occur secondary to and is not aggravated by service-connected PTSD or DMII.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied as the earliest date of entitlement to service connection is June 6, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic neuropathy of both lower extremities and carpal tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed before a decision can be made on whether service connection for the cause of the veteran's death should be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for hypertension and service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, left ear hearing loss, and PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or reasonable possibility of a favorable VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and therefore denied the claim for secondary service connection.