Diabetes decisions — 2008

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hepatitis C, a Right Shoulder Disability, and a Right Hand Disability. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was previously denied in September 1999 and is not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The ratings for bilateral hearing loss and ligament damage, left knee, with minimal joint space narrowing; degenerative joint disease were reduced but the veteran's appeal for restoration of these ratings are granted.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's diabetes mellitus, effective from the date of claim. The claim for a compensable schedular rating for erectile dysfunction is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is related to his active service, including exposure to herbicides. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and breathing problems, all to include as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The evidence did not support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy is rated at 60 percent since May 10, 2004 and the effective date for service connection has been set at May 8, 2001.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that neither arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease nor diabetes mellitus were related to his service or otherwise connected to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death. The appellant contends that the veteran should have been diagnosed with type II diabetes mellitus prior to his death, which could be a contributing factor to his death from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

The Board found that the veteran's left hip degenerative arthritis did not develop as a result of service-connected conditions and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by VA care or treatment, and thus denied DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for diabetes mellitus and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of activity regulation required due to diabetes, and thus no higher evaluation could be assigned.

The Board has determined that further development is required for the veteran's claims, including a VA eye examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral pterygium and to provide an opinion on whether any glaucoma found is related to in-service herbicide exposure or diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his poor balance caused by decreased eyesight and impaired depth perception, as well as weakness and numbness in his extremities. The Board finds that he is unable to function without supervision and assistance.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, including due to Agent Orange exposure, is denied as there is no evidence of current disability.

The veteran's appeal regarding an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and new evidence submitted by the veteran.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the need to regulate activities due to diabetes.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the veteran was exposed to PCBs or herbicides during service and to assess whether his current diabetes mellitus and colon cancer are related to such exposure.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction and lumbosacral strain with spina bifida were denied. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, is caused or aggravated by steroid medications prescribed for his service-connected COPD. The decision grants service connection for this condition.