Diabetes decisions — 2008

The veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he claims is due to herbicide exposure during his military service. The Board finds that the presumption of exposure to herbicides does not apply as there is no evidence of service in Vietnam. However, the veteran may still make a claim for direct service connection based on herbicide exposure outside of the Republic of Vietnam. The case is REMANDED for further verification of the veteran's alleged service at Eglin AFB and potential herbicide exposure.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment at O'Connor Hospital from October 6, 2005 to November 3, 2005 are granted as the VA facilities were not feasibly available and no prior authorization was given.

The veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus was denied as the law prohibits retroactive increases after service connection has been terminated.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and morbid obesity. The veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The RO has granted service connection for tremors (peripheral neuropathy) of the hands and assigned a 20 percent evaluation to each hand, while continuing a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus. The case is now remanded due to the veteran's request for a travel board hearing.

The veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 40 percent, which reflects the need for insulin and mild background retinopathy. The Board found that the disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance or special home adaptation grant, automobile and adaptive equipment, or SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and adhesions, finding no competent evidence of such conditions associated with her active military duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sleep apnea, navel hernia, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The claims for increase in post-traumatic stress disorder and Dependents' Educational Assistance are deferred pending completion of the development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type I and II, as well as severance of service connection for right ear hearing loss. The veteran was also denied increased ratings for PTSD, left knee disability, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a noncompensable disability rating. The claim for a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus with hypertension and diabetic retinopathy is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's nonservice-connected erectile dysfunction was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including medications for PTSD, hypertension, diabetes and residuals of a left ankle disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU, finding that the criteria were not met.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and assigned a 20 percent disability rating, effective January 6, 2005. The veteran's claim was initially denied in the October 2005 rating decision but was later granted with this new rating.

The Board has determined that there is a need to obtain additional evidence, including service personnel records and VA treatment records, in order to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence to support a finding of an in-service event, injury, or illness that would be etiologically related to his current conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in service and is not due to Agent Orange exposure. The claims for retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy, which are secondary to diabetes mellitus, were also denied as there is no evidence of these conditions being related to service or Agent Orange exposure.