Diabetes decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active service and could not be presumed to have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as service connection for benign schwannoma. The veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his diabetes mellitus due to lack of insulin or regulation of activities. His hypertension claim remains pending, and he must provide evidence showing its onset during service or being related to any in-service injury or disease. Service connection for benign schwannoma cannot be established as the tumor was initially characterized as benign but later found to be malignant.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hypertension did not manifest until many years after service and is not shown by the evidence of record to be related to his active duty service, or causally related to or otherwise aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is not due to disease or injury incurred in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for diabetes because the new evidence submitted was cumulative and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include post-traumatic stress disorder), finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other conditions warranting presumptive service connection. The diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and an eye condition. The claim for flat feet was not addressed due to a procedural issue.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the veteran's service dates and determine if his Type II Diabetes Mellitus was incurred during active duty, specifically ACDUTRA.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and headaches. The evidence did not establish direct service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, right knee crepitus and arthritis, and a left knee disorder have been reopened. The case is being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board has ordered a remand to clarify the relationship between the veteran's hypertension and his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus, type II. The examiner will determine if the veteran's hypertension is caused by or aggravated by these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Board determined that the veteran's acquired factor VIII deficiency, diabetes mellitus, interstitial lung disease (BOOP), and sleep apnea were not caused by VA treatment. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for these conditions was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee condition, left knee condition, tinnitus, COPD/asthma, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the legs and arms, and loss of use of a creative organ. The denial is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or other presumptive exposure.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity were granted, but both conditions are currently rated at their maximum allowable levels.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have exposure to Agent Orange during his military service and therefore cannot establish a presumption of service connection for any conditions related to such exposure. The claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, skin disorder, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, heart disorder, and stomach disorder are all denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed diabetes mellitus, type 2, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred due to Agent Orange exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied as there are no legal grounds to support such a request.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic nephropathy and an initial compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction associated with his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy, and there is no penile deformity or removal to warrant a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.