Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and major depressive disorder were denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective June 9, 2008.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 60 percent, reflecting the need for insulin and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of his cardiovascular disorder, including peripheral arteriosclerosis. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the claim for arteriosclerosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma, type II diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The appeals were based on unsubstantiated allegations of exposure to ionizing radiation or herbicides during active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not manifest as a result of active military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardiac arrest, which is not service-connected. The Board found that the service-connected conditions (amputation and hearing loss) did not cause or contribute to his death.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the award of special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ is not warranted. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction are being remanded as additional medical evidence is needed.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus during service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus associated with herbicide exposure, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and persistent foot ulcers, status post left great toe amputation is dismissed due to finality of previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as the condition is currently under fair control with oral medication and does not require insulin or a restricted diet. The claims for PTSD were partially granted, but the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating in excess of 50 percent after October 13, 2006. The claim to reopen service connection for a skin disorder was denied as no new and material evidence was presented.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus Type 2 with erectile dysfunction and glaucoma were denied. The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities was granted initial noncompensable disability ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his alleged in-service stressors and determine if he served in Vietnam. The issues of service connection for diabetes, basal cell carcinoma, a bilateral arm disorder, a bilateral foot disability, eye disabilities, and hypertension will be reconsidered after further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as it does not require insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated. The Veteran's current 40 percent evaluation for diabetes is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is related to his military service and granted service connection for major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease, which manifested to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, contributed substantially or materially to his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's CAD is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II due to presumed herbicide exposure. The initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent, and the TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, SSA records, and deck logs from his ship during his claimed in-service stressor event.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His claim for bilateral hearing loss was not granted as he did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. Service connection for hyperlipidemia and FSHD were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus is being remanded to allow for additional medical examination and review of records.