Diabetes decisions — 2014

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for type 2 diabetes mellitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The RO previously denied this claim in February 2004 due to lack of exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus (type II) was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have incurred during active military service due to Agent Orange exposure. The residuals of a left rib fracture are not considered related to active military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper and lower extremities as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicides while stationed in Korea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his period of service and have denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were withdrawn. The initial rating of 10 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to August 13, 2008, and the higher than 60 percent rating from August 13, 2008, through December 4, 2008, are denied. The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent as of December 4, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records, verifying Agent Orange exposure, scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current disabilities, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it did not originate in service or until several years thereafter and was not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a right leg disorder during service and concluded that the current condition is not related to service, including verified ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his effective dates for the granted conditions are not earlier than April 13, 2004.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated during his active military service and is not related to any service-connected condition. The Board found no evidence of in-country service, and thus could not grant presumptive service connection based on exposure to herbicides. As such, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Board found that hypertension and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they related to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's obesity is considered a non-service-related factor.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II does not require regulation of activities, which is necessary for a higher initial rating. The current 20 percent rating remains appropriate.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and remanded other issues including service connection for a dental condition, depressive disorder, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hearing loss.

The Board is remanding the claims for a videoconference hearing to be rescheduled due to the Veteran's absence. The claims will be considered again after the hearing.

The Veteran's death was caused by a cardiovascular accident due to uncontrolled diabetes and PTSD, which were service-connected. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes and PTSD were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions warranted a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for DM and a gallbladder condition due to new evidence received since the June 1998 rating determination. The original grants of service connection were not final as there is no indication that any claim was filed prior to April 1, 1992.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus has been rated at 20 percent since October 27, 2008. The Board found that the condition required insulin and restricted diet but not regulation of activities, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.