Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU prior to June 2, 2006 was denied as the preponderance of evidence showed he was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue regarding whether the January 28, 2004 RO decision should be revised or reversed on CUE is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cause of death due to congestive heart failure and stomach cancer, as well as his accrued benefits claim related to prostate cancer. The Veteran died from congestive heart failure caused by stomach cancer, which was not service-connected.

The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to April 14, 2005 for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy of the left eye. The Board denied this claim as there was no earlier claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. He currently has bilateral hearing loss which was neither incurred in nor aggravated by active service. He currently has tinnitus which was neither incurred in nor aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for left knee arthritis and Type II diabetes mellitus, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims. The Board also found that there was no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicide agents during service, precluding presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not begin during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current diabetic retinopathy or peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and concluded that these conditions are not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and a higher rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to February 13, 2003 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus with associated bilateral lower extremity neuropathy has been dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding that his symptoms did not warrant higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for right ulnar nerve compression was denied. The current rating of 30 percent is maintained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have type II diabetes mellitus or hypertension that is attributable to his active military service. The evidence does not establish a relationship between these conditions and his service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding herbicide exposure at Udorn Air Force Base, Thailand. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II is being reviewed again as part of this process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus. The decision also addressed separate ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, finding that none met the criteria for a higher rating.

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

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DM), as this condition can be presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure while serving at Eglin Air Force Base.