Diabetes decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issue of an increased rating for diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by not more than definite occupational and social impairment due to symptoms that included depressed mood, sleeplessness, and anxiety prior to June 26, 1996. The rating for PTSD has been increased to 100 percent effective in June 1996.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy and hyperopia was denied as there is no evidence of visual impairment warranting such a rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is related to his service, specifically ACDUTRA service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 or 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and prostate cancer, both due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not show current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran is found to have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, which he contends was incurred during his military service. As such, the claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (DM), coronary artery disease (CAD), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II on a presumptive basis due to his alleged exposure to Agent Orange while stationed in the DMZ of Korea. The Board has determined that additional development is required, including verifying the Veteran's presence in the DMZ and attempting to corroborate his contentions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicides during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant is in need of regular aid and attendance due to her multiple, severely disabling physical disabilities, including significant visual acuity and field of vision disorders. The evidence supports a finding that she requires assistance with activities such as dressing, basic hygiene, feeding, toileting, bending to tie shoe laces, and walking at night.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in disability within one year prior to March 21, 2001.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), finding that the Veteran did not have in-country service in Vietnam and thus was not entitled to presumptive service connection based on exposure to herbicides. The claim for diabetes mellitus was also denied as there was no evidence of chronicity in service or continuity of symptoms after discharge.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically chronic lumbar strain with degenerative changes and PTSD. His fragment wound scar of the left arm warrants a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for diabetes mellitus with cerebrovascular accident was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in severity within one year prior to the September 30, 2005 claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, was denied as the evidence did not show that the disability warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or Graves' disease attributable to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy did not begin during service and is not related to service, thus denying his claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and verifying his alleged exposure to herbicides in Korea. The Social Security Administration records will also be obtained.