Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 40 percent, as it is managed by insulin and restricted diet. The peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities also do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and variability of diagnoses. The Veteran needs to be rescheduled for a VA examination to address his skin disability, lung disorder, diabetes mellitus, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and headache disorder.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and information regarding potential exposures to toxins and chemicals in service. VA examinations are also needed to assess the nature and severity of his left thumb injury residuals, as well as any left hand disability and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing issue and will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including verification of herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus or bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lumbar spinal stenosis with herniated lumbar disc and myelopathy, and eye disability (mature senile cataract). The Veteran did not provide new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and chronic myelogenous leukemia were denied as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in service or a link to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II has been managed by the use of insulin and restricted diet; regulation of activities was not required to control diabetes. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met or more nearly approximated.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to address the impact of his diabetes mellitus on his employment and daily activities, as well as consider all service-connected disabilities in conjunction with each other.

The Veteran's DM with diabetic retinopathy was rated at 40 percent prior to November 11, 2009 and remains at that rating from November 11, 2009 onwards.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities were denied as there was no evidence of moderate or severe incomplete paralysis, which is required for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are not related to service, including as a result of herbicide exposure in Thailand. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in permanent and total disability that is due to the loss or loss of use of one or both lower extremities so as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. As such, he is entitled to a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 50% rating for service-connected PTSD was denied. The RO granted a 50% rating effective August 23, 2011.

The Veteran's cause of death was Laennec's cirrhosis, which is not service-connected. His DM II and pancreatitis are also not service-connected as they were not shown during his active duty.

For the entire initial rating period, lasting from December 13, 2005, to the present, the Veteran's service-connected diabetic skin disorders have been rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, a skin disorder of the feet (Athlete's foot), and residuals of a sexually transmitted disease. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for diabetes mellitus type II due to lack of exposure to herbicides during service.