Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and tinnitus in March 2001. The appellant's claims to reopen these conditions were subsequently denied as new and material evidence was not provided.,Diabetes mellitus and tinnitus are not related to any injury or disease incurred during active duty for training.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of low back disability and granted it. The claims for myopia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an eye examination to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetic retinopathy and sixth left nerve palsy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicides in Korea.

The Board has ordered additional development and remanded the case for further examination and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have rendered him unable to use his feet, meeting the criteria for assistance in providing an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran does not have chronic residuals of a syphilis infection related to his active duty service, and the current conditions are not found to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II was granted a 40 percent rating effective April 27, 2011. Prior to this date, the disability had been rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding no evidence of these conditions during or within the presumptive period following service. New evidence received since 2005 did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and granted service connection based on in-service combat exposure. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure, but not for other conditions as they were not diagnosed or related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, claimed as due to herbicide exposure during his time on the U.S.S. Hugh Purvis in Vietnam, is granted based on presumed exposure and current disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, the minimum rating required for a compensable evaluation. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as he does not have any restrictions on activities due to his diabetes.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the appellant's diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, diabetic left hand syndrome, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, effective December 27, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disabilities, including proliferative diabetic retinopathy, juxtafoval cystoid macular edema, and cataracts, have been rated at 20 percent since August 8, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including type II, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The issue of residuals of a head injury remains on appeal but not related to the denial.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred or presumed to have been incurred in active military service.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure, and the Board grants this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's alcohol abuse, which was secondary to his service-connected schizophrenia, and diabetes mellitus substantially contributed to his death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.