Diabetes decisions — 2009

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities. The Board finds that further development is necessary due to the Veteran's request for a personal hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for Type II diabetes and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, finding that the Veteran was exposed to toxic chemicals during service in Germany. The diseases are presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided was inadequate and has ordered a new examination to determine if the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is related to his active duty service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm disorder, a disorder of the right side, and metabolic encephalopathy (claimed as a brain disorder) are denied as these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated during active service and are not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, hepatitis C, and low back disability. The appeals are dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus did not develop during service and is not otherwise related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding no credible evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other factors linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking his conditions to active service or any exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board found that the cause of death was natural causes.

The claim for a higher evaluation of diabetes mellitus, type II is granted and the effective date is set at March 18, 2004. Service connection for hyperlipidemia, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, and erectile dysfunction are all denied.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, finding that the veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam-era service is presumed and he meets the diagnostic criteria for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected bronchitis did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his unemployability is attributed to nonservice-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus has been rated at 20 percent since May 8, 2001. The evidence does not show that the disability requires insulin and a restricted diet or oral hypoglycemic agent and a restricted diet.

The Veteran's type 1 Diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, nor is it presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for a heart disability, peripheral neuropathy, and eye condition secondary to diabetes are also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the claims of an effective date before June 19, 2003, for the grant of nonservice-connected pension benefits, and of service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include claimed as due to exposure to Agent Orange, are not before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA treatment records and examination reports.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right leg disorder is not related to service or any incident therein, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea has been granted. However, the effective date of the rating remains pending as a separate issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is more likely than not a cause of his current erectile dysfunction, and thus grants service connection for ED as secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.