Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, prostate cancer, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for further development. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened but remains denied.

The Veteran's initial or staged rating for diabetes mellitus is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his condition requires regulation of activities, hospitalizations, or other significant impairment beyond what is contemplated by the current 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the appellant may be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA compensation purposes, and to obtain a complete copy of the Veteran's VA treatment records. The claims will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection. Service connection for glaucoma and hypertension were denied as secondary to a service-connected disability, but the claim is pending. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was granted an initial rating of 10 percent from February 14, 2004, to December 30, 2009, and a rating in excess of 20 percent beginning December 30, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, as they do not require regulation of activities or deformity of the penis. The Veteran's claims were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and PTSD were denied as there is no credible evidence of exposure to herbicides or Vietnam service, and the competent medical evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected appendectomy scar did not cause or contribute to his death, and there is no evidence linking his lung disease, coronary artery disease, and chronic renal dysfunction to his period of service. The preponderance of the medical evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The appellant is not considered permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday, and therefore does not meet the criteria for helpless child benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his diabetes and to address issues related to service connection for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident and special monthly compensation based on housebound status.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure during service.,New and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining deck logs and VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired anxiety disorder, to include PTSD, and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II was not found to be related to service or Agent Orange exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise and affords the Veteran the full benefit of the doubt, granting service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes, finding no evidence of diabetes during service or within one year after discharge. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination and there is no indication that his diabetes is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the lower extremities, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus with cataracts and nephropathy, has been denied. His claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with cataracts and nephropathy remains pending.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and a right eye condition. The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the validity of these claims, including verifying herbicide exposure in Panama and obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the conditions.

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

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, claiming exposure to herbicides during his service aboard the USS Independence in Vietnam. The Board finds that additional development is needed to verify if and when the ship carried herbicides onboard and whether the Veteran served on landmass of Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for senile and peripheral cortical cataracts, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal is remanded for further development.