Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral eye disability (cataracts) are not service-connected. The erectile dysfunction is rated at the lowest possible compensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II did not have its onset in active military service and is not otherwise related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death due to COPD and other conditions, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The claim was reopened based on new evidence (diabetes mellitus), but this alone is insufficient to establish service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and denied the claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes during military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated based on their manifestations due to his diabetes mellitus. The initial ratings for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, diabetic retinopathy, and chronic kidney disease are all granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mood disorder, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, bilateral pes planus, and an abscess scar, precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 24, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a stomach disability to include gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a low back disability. The Board found that diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of chronicity after service. The current stomach disability and low back disability are also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected due to lack of qualifying service and the absence of a total disability rating for at least one year prior to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for pancreatitis, arthritis of the bilateral knees and ankles, herniated disc of the lumbar spine, diabetes mellitus, Type II, or hepatitis C.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a new VA examination to assess his pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as secondary to in-service herbicide exposure was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus is not entitled to a presumption of exposure to herbicides during such service.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to payment or reimbursement for services performed in May 2007 on the air conditioning system of his 2000 Chevrolet Impala, as these services were deemed necessary due to a leak and required repair.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that it is not related to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need to obtain his flight records and unit records to determine if he served in Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy in his upper extremities and denied service connection for this condition as it is not related to service or secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal.