Diabetes decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he claims was caused by exposure to herbicides during his military service, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service. Service connection was denied for sleep apnea due to lack of a medical nexus between the condition and either the Veteran's military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of a nexus to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for diabetes mellitus was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, right eye disability, gastrointestinal condition, hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension/vascular disease and a urological disorder, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during his military service or within the one-year presumptive period following discharge. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence linking any current hypertension to his diabetes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, and his PTSD is rated as 70 percent effective from March 15, 2004 to September 26, 2005. The Veteran also has separate ratings for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand (10%) and left hand (20%).

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for further action, including determining whether his diabetes mellitus should continue to be rated as a service-connected disability and adjudicating a claim for type I diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found no evidence linking the diabetes to his service.

The Board has determined that further action is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and whether he has a current diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and development.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the May 1971 rating decision that denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, concluding that the RO did not make a factual error but rather evaluated conflicting medical reports.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction have been granted, but the maximum benefits were not awarded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart problems, both secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a heart condition, acquired mental disorders, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and diabetes have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection for his bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing such disability within one year after discharge from service. Service connection was also denied for hypertension as new and material evidence had not been received sufficient to reopen the claim, and diabetes was not related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, parathyroid irregularities, and colon polyps have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current eye disorder or kidney disability that is proximately due to, caused by, or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The currently demonstrated heart disability is found to be at least as likely as not due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for DIC benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), diabetic retinopathy, a kidney condition, and diabetic ulcers, all conditions to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran seeks a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and arranging for an examination.