Diabetes decisions — 2013

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury and no qualifying Vietnam service to support a presumption. The Veteran's current diabetes is not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, and there was no evidence of secondary hypertension or arthritis/neck/back conditions to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and diabetic nephropathy are all found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The rating for the diabetic nephropathy is increased from 20% to 60%. Increased ratings of 10% each were granted for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathies.

The Board has granted service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and assigned an initial 70 percent rating, effective August 14, 2011. The Veteran's other claims were denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus has been remanded due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The case is remanded for additional development, including obtaining evidence from a health care provider regarding the regulation of activities prescribed to control diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not cause his death, as other significant conditions contributing to death were found.

The Board found no evidence of service in Vietnam or exposure to herbicide agents, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and mycosis fungoides as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Diabetes Mellitus, Type II requires a 20 percent evaluation for the entire rating period due to the use of an oral hypoglycemic agent and dietary restrictions.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as secondary to herbicide exposure during active duty training.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated by his service. The Board finds the Veteran's statements regarding in-service symptoms and diagnosis of these conditions to be less credible due to inconsistencies with other evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not have onset in service and was not caused or permanently aggravated by the Veteran's active military service, to include his service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II.

The Veteran has effectively lost the use of both of his lower extremities due to service-connected disabilities, which require the use of a wheelchair for mobility.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and an increased evaluation for his right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes are presumed to have been incurred in service due to his exposure to Agent Orange during his service aboard the U.S.S. Davis, which operated temporarily in Vietnam inland waterways.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its secondary effects on other disorders. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been rated at 20 percent since October 8, 2004. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his condition is currently controlled with oral hypoglycemic agents and/or insulin (as of May 2011) and must adhere to a restricted diet.,Prior to September 13, 2011, the Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease was rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his condition is currently controlled with medication and exercise recommendations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, to include as due to herbicide exposure, was denied because he did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on his alleged exposure to herbicides during active military service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lower extremity disability during service and concluded that the Veteran's current lower extremity disabilities are not related to his service-connected low back strain.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic squamous cell cancer, which is not service-connected. His service-connected diabetes did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.