Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, chronic bacterial sinusitis, and dysthymia are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found no evidence of complications warranting a higher rating. The issues regarding bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis or disc disease of the lumbar spine were also addressed but are not detailed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 26, 2008 is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral diabetic retinopathy was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type I, was restored to a 40 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran service connection for left knee strain and Meniere's syndrome with tinnitus, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found that diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred or aggravated in active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, was denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within the applicable presumptive period and concluded that there is no link between the Veteran's current diabetes and his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The claims for upper extremity and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, as well as visual impairment, have all been denied due to lack of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, claimed as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange, is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his alleged overseas assignments and potential herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus, Type II based on a finding that his exposure to herbicides during service is not credible and there is no evidence of in-service exposure. As such, diabetes cannot be presumed to have been incurred due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, brain aneurysm, and cervical spine disability were denied as the evidence did not show a link to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for further development, including verification of overseas assignments and obtaining medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent disabling for diabetes mellitus, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7913. The Board also found no evidence of regulation of activities due to diabetes requiring a higher 40 percent rating. A separate compensable rating for erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes was not granted.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to service-connected conditions. The bilateral foot disorder claim is remanded.

The Board found no evidence of service-connected conditions that caused or contributed to the Veteran's death. The appellant claimed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, but there was no such evidence and the RO did not find any connection between the Veteran's post-service health issues and his military service.

The Veteran claims service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to herbicide exposure in Korea. The Board has requested verification of whether the Veteran's unit had ever patrolled near the DMZ where herbicides were used.

The Veteran claims service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, alleging exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Thailand. The Board has requested further development from the VA's Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards and the Air Force Personnel Center to verify if he was exposed to Agent Orange at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam.

The Veteran's adult-onset diabetes is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service near the DMZ in Korea, and thus presumptive service connection for adult-onset diabetes is granted.