Diabetes decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional evidence from the veteran and his representative.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have right upper extremity or left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The claims of service connection for PTSD and hypertension are also addressed in this decision.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial ratings of 20% and 10%, respectively, for prostate cancer and Type II diabetes with neuropathy associated with herbicide exposure. The conditions are rated based on their primary manifestations.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and PTSD, finding that the veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his military service is presumed. The veteran's PTSD was also found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus and bilateral foot disability were not incurred or aggravated during active service, nor are they related to any in-service event. The appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The earliest manifestation of diabetes was noted 18 months after his military service ended.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the earliest opportunity. His claims of service connection for hypertension and increased rating for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, as well as TDIU, will be heard.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, diabetes mellitus type II, and other conditions secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The diagnoses of lactic or diabetic acidosis were not supported by evidence in the record.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, or peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The presumption of herbicide exposure in Vietnam does not apply as there is no credible evidence showing he served in Vietnam during the Vietnam era.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion, as well as additional development of VA treatment records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current disability ratings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus and service connection for neurogenic bladder, finding that there is no evidence to support a higher rating or service connection based on secondary service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection of diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer are being remanded due to the need to obtain his service personnel records, verify if he was exposed to pesticides/insecticides during service, and provide a nexus opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, footdrop, and a bilateral foot disorder as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for increased rating of diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The veteran's service connection claim for type II diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for further investigation regarding his exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus requires a controlled diet and oral hypoglycemic medications; it does not require regulation of activities. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have diabetes mellitus or ulcerative colitis due to service, and thus denied both claims.