Diabetes decisions — 2009

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, but denied the claims for a higher rating for diabetes and TDIU.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his military service or secondary to his already service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus. The exposure basis of herbicides is noted but no evidence was provided.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the back and neck, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The Appellant's claims were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of August 30, 2002 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II associated with herbicide exposure was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that Alzheimer's, diabetes, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease were not related to his military service. The Veteran's PTSD was found not to have contributed to his death.

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, type II based on objective glucose testing over multiple years.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service. The claim for increased evaluation for testicle injury residuals was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service catarrhal fever and his death.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted, and a 50 percent disability rating was assigned. The diabetes mellitus claim resulted in a grant of an increased rating to 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD was incurred in service and is granted. His alcoholism, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal disability, skin rash, heart disease, and respiratory condition are all found to be aggravated by service.

The Veteran died from nonservice-connected causes and was not in receipt of VA service-connected benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, he is ineligible for VA nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's claim of an earlier effective date for type II diabetes mellitus is denied. The claims to reopen his service connection for hypertension and pancreatitis are both found to have new and material evidence, but the effectiveness of reopening remains unclear due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against this claim and denies it.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's Hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis and sarcoid choroidal granuloma of the right eye were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disability, including diabetes mellitus. The claim based on exposure to herbicides was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and its associated peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal involves the initial ratings assigned for service-connected conditions including diabetes mellitus, sensory peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, common peroneal neuropathy and sensory peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and PTSD. The RO has granted service connection for these conditions but did not specify any particular theory of service connection or exposure basis.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy in both lower extremities is rated at 30 percent, reflecting severe incomplete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve (common peroneal).