Diabetes decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The veteran's hypertension, eye condition (diabetic retinopathy), and impotence are being remanded for additional development as they may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of rating the service-connected conditions have not been decided.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was treated with insulin and a restricted diet, but did not require regulation of activities. The initial rating for coronary artery disease remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a stomach condition, an esophageal condition, and a back condition. The denial was based on the absence of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for diabetes mellitus type II and erectile dysfunction, as well as his claims for service connection for a bladder disorder, respiratory disorder, and cellulitis were all denied. The veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence linking his current diagnosis to active duty.

The Board found that the veteran did not have diabetes at the time of his death, and therefore it could not have contributed to his cause of death. The appellant's claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus effective from November 28, 2001. The veteran's claim for higher ratings remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a back disorder, as well as his increased rating claims. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and right great toe amputation on a secondary basis to service-connected frostbite residuals. The veteran's assertions alone cannot be dispositive of the issue for purposes of reopening the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 1, 2004 for a grant of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The decision found that it was not factually ascertainable prior to March 1, 2004 that the veteran was unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing, as requested by the veteran. The veteran's claim of reopening his diabetes mellitus type II service connection will be further reviewed after the hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to presumed exposure to herbicides and for specially adapted housing and housing assistance.

The Board found that the appellant's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's current back, diabetes mellitus, and psychiatric disabilities are not related to his active duty service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (type II diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, and coronary artery disease) do not render him unemployable. The Board finds that the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The conditions are not found to be related to his active service or directly caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support finding that the cirrhosis was caused or aggravated by the diabetes.