Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus with associated open angle glaucoma was denied.,The Veteran's request for an effective date earlier than April 2, 2009, for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, hypertension, kidney transplant, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied as there is no credible evidence that he served in Vietnam or was exposed to herbicides during his military service.

The Board denied reopening of the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicides in Vietnam and no chronic symptoms or diagnosis during service. The Veteran's current diabetes mellitus is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed with respect to the October 2009 rating decision denying service connection for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board finds that the Veteran's condition was an emergent medical emergency, and payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred on November 15, 2009 at CRMC is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records, particularly those dated prior to October 2003. The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and diabetes mellitus type II are pending.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and chloracne due to herbicide exposure as the Veteran did not set foot in Vietnam or serve on an inland waterway of Vietnam. The deck logs do not indicate that his ship was present in Vietnam's inland waters.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye cataract is as likely as not caused by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. However, there is no evidence linking the bilateral toe ingrown toenails to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 21, 2010, for the award of service connection for diabetic retinopathy and February 10, 2006, for the award of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were denied as there is no credible evidence of Vietnam service, and the conditions are not shown to be related to military service.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is manifested by mild incomplete paralysis with symptoms of numbness, tingling and intermittent pain. The Board finds a separate compensable rating of 10 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip disability was previously denied and no new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim. The claim remains denied.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction, both of which are presumed to be related to his exposure to Agent Orange during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and various types of peripheral neuropathy. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his service-connected diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 6, 2006, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as his original claim was received on March 6, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been denied. The effective dates for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type 2 are August 4, 2008, as these conditions were granted based on the date of claim. For PTSD, the effective date is January 1, 1991.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, which he asserts is due to herbicide exposure in Korea, was denied as there was no evidence of such exposure and the disease did not manifest within one year after discharge. The Board found that the Veteran had no in-service evidence of diabetes mellitus and no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic retinopathy with macular degeneration, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to herbicide exposure during his service in Korea. His secondary service connection claims are also granted.