Diabetes decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not related to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The cause of death was a cerebral hemorrhage due to metastatic melanoma.

The Board has determined that the October 2007 rating decision denying a higher disability rating for diabetes mellitus did not contain clear and unmistakable error. The Veteran's claim of service connection for peripheral vascular disease was denied in an earlier decision, but new evidence has been received since then to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of benign prostatic hypertrophy was withdrawn. The Board denied the increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus with onychomycosis pedis, hypertension and erectile dysfunction from March 9, 2009, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7913.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and any related complications.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred or aggravated during his period of active service. The Board found no evidence linking the current diagnosis to military service and denied presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure due to lack of evidence that he served in Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence. The appellant contends that the Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis contributed to his death, but a VA medical opinion indicates that arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease was not related to the Veteran's military service or his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that the cause of death listed on the certificate of death (shortness of breath) may have been due to the Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran is asked to provide additional details, and if necessary, the VA will contact the JSRRC for verification.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diabetes mellitus. The Veteran needs to be provided with another VA examination for this purpose.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, renal cell carcinoma, was not caused or contributed to by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the criteria for separate evaluations of 30 percent for each foot were not met during the period from January 12, 1998 until May 21, 2001. The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claim did not meet the required criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service diagnoses. The issue of service connection for a urinary tract disability remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and melanoma are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicides in the Philippines.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess his current medical condition, including bilateral knee and diabetes mellitus. The case will then be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 40 percent effective March 17, 2009. The Veteran was previously granted service connection for the condition but not a specific rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examination to determine the extent of his remaining foot function and whether he has lost use of either lower extremity due to service-connected disabilities. Relevant medical records from the University of Michigan are also requested.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer with residual urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension all due to herbicide exposure during service. The evidence did not support a finding of such exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted and assigned an initial evaluation of 30 percent, which was increased to 50 percent effective the date of service connection. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent disabling with separate ratings for peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities as well as erectile dysfunction. The low back disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's fast pulse rate and cardiac arrhythmia are etiologically related to his service-connected hypertension. The preponderance of evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, but erectile dysfunction is found to be present.