Diabetes decisions — 2009

The Board denied the restoration of a 10 percent rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, but granted a 10 percent rating for hypoglycemia as symptomatic of diabetes mellitus, type II, effective from February 13, 2008. The claim for an increased initial rating for tinnitus was denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus as it was not shown to be related to the veteran's military service, including any herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and heart disease as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously disallowed claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, and hypertension, secondary to diabetes mellitus, due to exposure to Agent Orange because he did not serve in Vietnam and his service in Korea was prior to the recognized period of use of Agent Orange.

The Board granted service connection for multiple sclerosis on a presumptive basis, but denied service connection for CAD, diabetic retinopathy, and lower extremity edema with peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides and no evidence that the disease manifested within one year of discharge.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as the preponderance of evidence indicated it was not linked to a verified in-service stressor.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU was denied because the medical records indicating unemployability received in August 2000 and February 2001 do not constitute claims for a TDIU, and the requisite schedular criteria were not established prior to December 23, 2003.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, left ear disability, and lumbar spine disability for further development.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, as there was no evidence linking the veteran's service-connected chronic brain syndrome to his death from cardiac arrhythmia, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, and carcinoma of the prostate.

The veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, as it requires insulin and a restricted diet but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin rash of the neck and between the legs, diabetes mellitus, type II, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were denied as there was no evidence of current conditions or credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, and an eye disorder are granted service connection as they are presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure during his military service.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was rated at 40 percent, while his erectile dysfunction did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as there was no competent medical evidence showing he had the condition. The appeal regarding diabetes mellitus, type II, is being remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and leg swelling as secondary to diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of a current disability due to these conditions that could be attributed to active service.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and diabetes mellitus, including a separate compensable rating for diabetic gastroparesis, are being remanded for further development.

The veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 40 percent, and an increased evaluation was not warranted.

The appeal is remanded to obtain updated medical records and determine if the veteran currently has diabetes mellitus, type II.