Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the July 2000 rating decision, which granted a 60 percent disability evaluation for diabetes mellitus with sexual dysfunction and retinopathy, was based on clear and unmistakable error. The Veteran's service-connected condition required insulin and a restricted diet or oral hypoglycemic agent, but no regulation of activities were documented.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his diabetes mellitus and whether coronary artery disease is secondary to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issue of service connection for coronary artery disease will also be addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability but denied service connection for diabetes. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his active military service, while his diabetes was not incurred in or aggravated by any incident of service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and could not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's Type-II diabetes mellitus was initially rated at 20 percent prior to February 8, 2010 and increased to 40 percent since then.,His peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity with rigidity and bradykinesis has been rated at 10 percent prior to November 30, 2009 and increased to 40 percent since that date. His right lower extremity condition was also rated at 10 percent prior to November 30, 2009 and increased to 40 percent since then.,The effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus is set at August 28, 1998.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a skin disease, lung disorder, left foot disability, ulcers, and an eye disability were denied as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions at the time of his death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, carotid artery disease, and diabetes mellitus type II due to secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea. However, these claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and nasal polyps. The initial compensable evaluations for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence suggesting possible exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand, which could affect the service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues are whether he can establish service connection for diabetes mellitus and PTSD, with the latter not linked to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal disorder is not service-connected, and the issues of service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus are denied.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus with a 10% rating effective March 6, 2004. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicides at Takhli RTAFB, finding that the Veteran's job as a perimeter guard placed him near the base perimeter. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a back disability, but denied them on their merits. The reopening of the claims is based on new evidence related to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims (diabetes mellitus), while the denial of the claims remains unchanged due to lack of material evidence.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to be due to his in-service exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The facial burn residuals are rated at 30 percent based on the characteristics of disfigurement.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied, as the most probative medical opinion on these matters weighs against a nexus to service or service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's increased ratings for post-operative right knee medial femoral condyle osteochondritis dissecans (based on instability) and right knee degenerative joint disease prior to January 27, 2010 were denied as the symptoms did not warrant higher ratings under applicable rating criteria. For the period from October 1, 2011, a TDIU was granted based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to his service-connected liposarcoma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at his local RO.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected condition that caused or contributed to the Veteran's death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.