Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected proteinuria did not cause his death, and the causes of his death (coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, nephritis, and hypertension) were not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death was denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no exposure to herbicides and insufficient evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, finding that the September 10, 2001 application was the earliest reference to a claim following the final June 2000 denial. The decision also noted there is no evidence on file prior to this date that can be construed as an informal or formal claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, bilateral cataracts, and tinea pedis is rated at 20 percent. Separate ratings for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy or cataracts are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's tinea pedis does not warrant a separate compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance as there was no evidence of damage to his outergarments from prescribed medication due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, polycystic kidney disease, and coronary artery disease as presumptively related to exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Gulf War.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of both conditions are supported by competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Tinnitus, and Colon Resection Due to Diverticulitis were denied as they are not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings, entitlement to TDIU, and entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence.,Service connection for hypertension was denied in a March 2002 rating decision. New and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary as the October 2007 VA examination did not address whether the service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravated the hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, glaucoma, and residuals of a right hand fracture, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, vascular problems and erectile dysfunction, all claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of all four extremities, tinnitus, and acneform, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU based on the evidence showing he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran has type II diabetes mellitus that is the result of disease or injury incurred during active military service, and hypertension secondary to type II diabetes mellitus. Service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to determine his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case to allow for a video conference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hepatitis C. The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and its incurrence or aggravation during active service may not be presumed. Diabetes mellitus was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and its incurrence or aggravation during active service may not be presumed. Resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor, hepatitis C was incurred in service.