Diabetes decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no medical evidence showing their onset during service or within one year following discharge. The presumptions for Vietnam-era veterans do not apply to this case.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an ulcer disability or diabetes mellitus that is related to his active service. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred in service, and the claim for service connection for an ulcer disability was denied because the evidence did not show it was incurred during service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether or not there is a relationship between the veteran's current erectile dysfunction and his service-connected diabetes mellitus. As such, the criteria for entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, have been met.

The Board found that the veteran's sleep apnea, left arm disorder, prostatitis (claimed as urinary tract condition), diabetes, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and umbilical hernia are all related to his active service. The eye disorder was not found to be related to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (diabetes mellitus, left and right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, and right and left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy) are being reviewed to determine if they render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for Type II Diabetes Mellitus and associated bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was incurred in active duty and is granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or at the housebound rate due to her multiple conditions, including right arm lymphedema, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The evidence did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating or permanent confinement to her dwelling.

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

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus type I may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated by service due to herbicide exposure, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death while the case was pending before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated during active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The preponderance of evidence shows that the veteran did not have a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus until after separation from service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and SMC were denied due to the lack of evidence showing a direct link between his conditions and his military service. The claim for PTSD was granted, but not at an increased rate.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's diabetes mellitus, adhesive capsulitis of both shoulders, and diabetic neuropathy of both upper extremities. The veteran appealed for higher initial ratings for these conditions, but the Board found no basis to grant any rating higher than 20 percent.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, and there is no evidence to warrant referral for consideration of individual unemployability on an extra-schedular basis.

The veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for Type II Diabetes Mellitus was denied, as the evidence did not support a need for insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent. His hypertension claim was also denied due to lack of competent medical evidence linking it to his service-connected diabetes.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy was denied, and his request for an increased evaluation for right eye disability was also denied. The RO found that the veteran did not have diabetic retinopathy and that the right eye disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus and service connection for hypertension, right eye iritis, PTSD, and left wrist tendonitis. The VA found that diabetes mellitus alone warranted a 20% rating without requiring regulation of activities or hospitalizations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back strain with mechanical low back pain is the result of a motor vehicle accident during active duty for training, and service connection is granted.