Diabetes decisions — 2012

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be causally related to his active duty service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased rating for diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The Board found that the Appellant's diabetes mellitus type II is service-connected due to herbicide exposure during his active duty in Vietnam, and granted this claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the other service-connected conditions do not warrant higher ratings. The appeal for increased ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Jackson Hospital from March 5, 2009 to March 9, 2009 was denied as the treatment did not relate to a service-connected disability and he had other health care coverage.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for dysthymic disorder was granted, with an effective date of February 4, 2008. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 7913. His peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity are each rated at 20 percent, his peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity are each rated at 10 percent, and his erectile dysfunction is rated as noncompensable. His bilateral diabetic retinopathy of the eyes is also rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after his military service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms. The Board denied the claim for secondary service connection to hypertension and coronary artery disease.

The Board denied reopening and granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that diabetes alone was not a significant or material factor in his death.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his Erectile Dysfunction (ED) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any physical deformity of the penis in addition to the loss of erectile power.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and personnel records. The claims of service connection for residuals of a right fifth finger fracture, bilateral hearing loss disability, cold injury to hands and feet, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus type 2 will be deferred until further development is completed.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for diabetes mellitus and denied the claim. The Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension limit, resulting in denial of non-service-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure is denied as there is no evidence of in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DM, cancer of the larynx/trachea, and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including new examinations and consideration of the issues on appeal. The primary focus is on determining whether his service-connected PTSD or diabetes mellitus caused or chronically worsened his hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, effective February 22, 2001. The Veteran's condition was severe enough to warrant a 100% disability rating.

The Board has determined that there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's pre-existing Type II Diabetes Mellitus was not aggravated by his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) beyond its natural progression. The hypertension claim is pending as it relates to a period of ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are sufficient by themselves to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, residuals of removal of gallstones and gallbladder, a disability manifested by dizziness, diabetes mellitus, nerve damage in the head, hypertension, asthma, heart disability, impotence, and an eye disability. The Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as defined by VA regulations.