Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's cancer of the larynx is not service-connected as it was not caused by any incident during his military service, including exposure to a fire in Vietnam. The Board finds that there is no evidence linking the cancer to service.,Diabetes mellitus has also not been linked to service and the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam where herbicide exposure would be presumed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have diabetes mellitus, and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 12, 2008 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities since November 1, 2008.

The Board finds that an effective date earlier than June 25, 2012 for the assignment of special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R1 rate is not factually ascertainable.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation from active duty, and there is no evidence to support a finding of herbicide exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic retinopathy does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on current or prior VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for restless leg syndrome has been resolved as the September 2011 rating decision granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, which includes restless leg syndrome. The effective date is November 2009.

The Veteran's skin disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated during his active service. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer residuals are denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in service. The claim for erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his right inguinal hernia with scar was granted at a 10% disability rating. The service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension were reopened on new evidence, but the secondary service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was caused by VA care or treatment, and that this care or treatment proximately caused his death. The appellant has provided evidence suggesting that the VA facility failed to timely diagnose and treat a sacral decubitus ulcer, which contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and is granting the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of his upper and lower extremities. The appeal as to sleep apnea is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship with hypertension, kidney disease, or newly service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his service, with type 2 diabetes mellitus being presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is also considered presumptively related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, residuals of a stroke, and visual impairment disability have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in service and denied the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, liver condition, hypertension, and kidney condition as they are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as he was not rated as totally disabled for a continuous period of at least ten years immediately preceding his death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for periodontal disease, claimed as gingivitis secondary to diabetes mellitus type II was dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant. The effective date of TDIU is set at March 8, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, residuals of a stroke, and diabetes mellitus are not due to service or any service-connected disability. The claims were denied.