Diabetes decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was first manifested during service and is related to his military service, while diabetes mellitus did not manifest within one year of separation from service or have any relation to his military service.

The Veteran's current type 2 diabetes mellitus is not traceable to disease or injury incurred in active military service and may not be presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that his disability picture does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as the disability does not require regulation of activities, which is necessary to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for diabetes was granted, with the current rating of 20 percent effective February 16, 1994. The VA determined that his condition did not require any restrictions on activities to manage his diabetes.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, and skin cancer, as the result of exposure to herbicides are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, which he claims is secondary to Agent Orange exposure, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus warrants a 40 percent disability evaluation, effective from May 5, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder was withdrawn, and the issue of an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus was also withdrawn. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD has been set at March 7, 1996.,PTSD is now rated at 100 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus treatment requires insulin and a restricted diet, but not restriction of activities. The criteria for a higher disability rating were not met.

The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to ionizing radiation or appendicitis, and denied service connection for all claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the criteria for severance of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension have not been met, thus denying the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus has been rated as 20 percent disabling. His bilateral eye disorder, diagnosed in May 2000, is not considered service-connected due to lack of continuity of symptomatology and no evidence linking the condition to his active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and found that he is unemployable due to his service-connected obstructive lung disease. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and TDIU are being remanded for further development.

The Board found that the appellant's diabetes mellitus, type II with eye pathology was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's claim for an automobile or other conveyance allowance and adaptive equipment was denied as he does not meet the criteria for loss of use of a foot or hand, nor does he have anatomical loss of any extremity or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes.

The Board found that the unauthorized medical expenses incurred on January 2, 2005 were not rendered in a medical emergency and thus denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection, finding no current diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy or other claimed conditions. The rating for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disability causing sensitivity secondary to diabetes mellitus, and his petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for refractive error and hyperopia. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not service connected, as there was no in-service diagnosis or manifestation of the condition and no evidence linking it to his military service. The claim for presumptive service connection based on exposure to Agent Orange also fails due to lack of duty within Vietnam.