Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Veteran's current diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus was not shown to be related to his active duty or active duty training, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board notes that the Veteran served in Vietnam but was unable to confirm his specific location or duration of service there due to lack of information from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC). As a result, the case is REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, type II diabetes mellitus, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and prostate cancer have been denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a link to service. The claim for an increased rating for prostate cancer has also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus has been rated at 40 percent, effective February 9, 2004.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for a headache disability and hiccups and muscular twitching of the eyes, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The claim for diabetes mellitus remains denied as there is no objective medical evidence showing it was caused by hypertension.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred as a result of service, including due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran withdrew from her appeal all claims except for the claim of increase for panic disorder. The Board dismissed these claims as withdrawn.

The Board has ordered additional development regarding the Veteran's hypertension claim, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded to allow for further investigation and evaluation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 10 percent, effective July 22, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as due to exposure to herbicides. The evidence did not establish a link between the disability and active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple conditions, including cellulitis, otitis media, tinnitus, nasopharyngeal cancer (claimed as throat cancer), diabetes mellitus, glaucoma (claimed as blindness), coronary artery disease, and degenerative joint disease of both knees. The preponderance of evidence is against the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including cellulitis of the right lower extremity, type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, renal failure, lung cancer, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not caused by or the result of VA medical treatment, specifically the use of olanzapine to treat his schizophrenia. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Board found that there was no exposure to herbicides during service, and thus the Veteran could not be presumed exposed. The evidence did not establish a direct link between diabetes mellitus type II and service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and gout were denied as there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury. The Veteran's periodic limb movement disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, migraine headaches, GERD, steatohepatitis, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are all rated based on their current manifestations.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and retinopathy of the bilateral eyes on a secondary basis to service-connected diabetes. The Veteran's claim for skin rash is reopened, but no new evidence was provided.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including heart disability, Type II diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, and hypertension. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus does not require regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities), so a higher initial evaluation is not warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and colon cancer are not related to his service, including exposure to herbicides or PCBs. The claims were denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants the reopening of the claim.