Diabetes decisions — 2008

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding it as likely as not that the condition manifested within one year after separation from service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, arthritis, and a kidney condition were reopened but ultimately denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and residuals of right leg injury as there is no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for loss of vision, diabetes mellitus, left leg venous insufficiency, psychiatric disorder (dysthymia and depression), hypertension, lumbosacral strain, heart disorder, and residuals of dental trauma as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, arthritis of the left and right shoulders, and arthritis of the finger joints of both hands as there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his period of active service.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 40 percent, and his claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened but ultimately denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, schizophrenia (previously evaluated as a personality disorder), bilateral tinnitus, low back disability, left ankle disability, chronic kidney failure, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, Type II, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation and no medical nexus to service.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is rated as 40 percent disabling due to the requirement of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities.

The Board denied an increased rating for diabetes mellitus and a higher initial rating for left side sciatic neuropathy, as the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Board remands the case for a VA medical opinion regarding the veteran's exposure to asbestos and its potential role in causing or worsening his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, diabetes mellitus (presumed secondary to herbicide exposure), gastroesophageal reflux disease with a hiatal hernia, and effective dates earlier than June 18, 2004, and February 9, 2005, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, respectively.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether the disabilities are secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and any aggravation by that condition.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral visual disorder, tinea pedis, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ. However, it granted service connection for tinea pedis secondary to service-connected tinea pubis and erectile dysfunction secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating and service connection, finding no evidence of a compensable disability or conditions as claimed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional service connection.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 40 percent effective June 6, 2005, and separate ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities were granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for diabetes mellitus, and for service connection for hypertension and headaches as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent and his service-connected disability is not sufficient to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to schedule a VA examination.