Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Veteran's original claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied in April 2004 due to lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicides. The Board found no new and material evidence since the previous denial.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for diabetes mellitus or shortness of breath, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 10 percent, but the claims for gastroparesis and hypertension are denied as not related to service or due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and muscle breakdown as they were not permanently worsened by the appellant's reserve duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as due to herbicide exposure, is denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have active service in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam Era and was not exposed to herbicides while on active duty, thus precluding presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy, and multiple myeloma were denied as these conditions are not presumed to have been incurred due to his alleged exposure to herbicides during service. The Board found that the first evidence of these conditions is decades after service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes, left eye blindness, and a back disorder due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is etiologically related to his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including broken teeth, migraine headaches, head injury, dislocated shoulder, hip arthritis, knee arthritis, nose and jaw injuries, diabetes mellitus, thyroid issues, lung problems, throat issues, breathing problems, allergies, gum bleeding, loss of smell/taste, sleep apnea, swallowing problems (dysphagia), blepharitis, ulcers, chronic fatigue syndrome, psychiatric disorders, fear of heights, memory problems, and insomnia are not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy with bilateral cataracts has not met the criteria for a compensable disability rating under either the old or revised VA rating criteria. The Veteran does not have impairment of central visual acuity that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current Type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, and its incurrence or aggravation during active service may not be presumed. The appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The presumptive provisions for these conditions have not been met.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and its related complications, including genitourinary disorders, bilateral lower extremity pain (peripheral neuropathy), vision loss, and anemia. The Veteran's right knee disorder is also now considered service-connected as secondary to his left knee disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at a higher than 20 percent level, and the claim for service connection of PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol has been denied as it is not a compensable disability.,Service connection has been reopened for bilateral athlete's foot, but the issue remains pending and will be addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The Veteran's cause of death, acute myocardial infarction, was not found to be service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of cerebrovascular accident as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II and has also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his diabetes and cerebrovascular accidents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including secondary to hypertension. The case is now pending with the RO.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound due to her failure to cooperate with VA examinations and lack of good cause for missing scheduled appointments.