Diabetes decisions — 2009

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the non-service-connected disability pension award, finding that entitlement arose on November 16, 2004, when the Veteran's private physician provided medical evidence supporting his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and determining the nature of his periods of National Guard duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD, earlier effective date for PTSD service connection, and service connection for arthritis of the left hand, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), and hypertension were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including tuberculosis, liver damage and hepatitis, endocrine system damage with diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, neuropathy of extremities, diabetic retinopathy blindness, and headaches. The decision found that new evidence did not support reopening the claim for residuals of tuberculosis, and that there was no direct service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 17, 2006. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as he does not require insulin and his condition is stable with oral medication and diet.

The Board denied service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of its onset in service or a link to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim was based on presumed service connection due to herbicide exposure, but the Court and Federal Circuit have since ruled that such presumptions do not apply when there is no actual service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded as the VA examination report does not address his employability solely based on his service-connected disabilities, and additional records are needed.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to Escherichia coli sepsis, with underlying causes including urinary tract infection, paralytic ileus, and acute renal failure. The Board is remanding the case for further development to determine if his service-connected disabilities contributed significantly to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to determine the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or asbestos, and the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and pulmonary disability were not shown to be related to his military service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for all issues except gout, which received a 20% disability rating. The remaining conditions were either not granted or had their ratings denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as the disability does not require regulation of activities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus may have aggravated his hypertension, and to furnish the Veteran with notice of 38 C.F.R. § 3.310.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence and a request for an additional hearing. The appellant's claim of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II remains pending.

The Veteran's sinusitis, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetes mellitus have been evaluated based on their current manifestations. The sinusitis is rated at 10 percent; the diabetic neuropathies are each rated at 10 percent; and the diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent.

The Board found no evidence of the Veteran's presence in Vietnam, and thus denied service connection for diabetes mellitus based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and did not have a relationship to any aspect of his service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of whether new and material evidence had been presented to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin tag of the left hip, frontal alopecia, and entitlement to an initial compensable rating for scar, left inguinal hernia repair residuals.