Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, which were aggravated by his exposure to Agent Orange during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, has been managed by oral medication and does not require insulin or regulation of activities. His IVDS of the lumbar spine continues to be rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The Board found that the evidence did not indicate herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities; diabetes mellitus; hypertension; benign prostatic hypertrophy; and veneral disease claimed as syphilis.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The claim for service connection for congenital hemivertebral scoliosis and a developmental shoulder abnormality was denied due to lack of evidence showing aggravation beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy and sleep apnea are being remanded to the RO for additional development of his medical records and for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to specifically include PTSD, was denied as the evidence of record fails to corroborate her reported stressor.,Service connection is also denied for hypertension, stroke residuals, hysterectomy residuals, and diabetes mellitus as there is no evidence that these conditions began during or were otherwise caused by her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not related to his service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, CVA, and basal cell carcinoma of the right upper eyelid. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran is found to be precluded from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, which have rendered him unable to work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a chronic skin disorder, claimed as skin cancer, due to herbicide exposure was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities have been granted a 40 percent disability evaluation, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially and materially to his death from atherosclerotic heart disease, with diabetes and Parkinson's disease contributing as well.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's epilepsy was not found to be a direct cause of his death, and the causes of death (pneumonia, coronary artery disease, and diabetes) were not determined to be service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing assistance or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of qualifying disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records prior to August 2006 and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for PTSD will also be expanded to include other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorder and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ was denied. The Board found that the current assigned ratings were appropriate given the Veteran's symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a left shoulder disability were denied as there was no in-service injury or disease, and the current disabilities are not related to military service. The Veteran does not have basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits.