Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran was employed on a full-time basis until July 18, 2007. Therefore, his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, impotence, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as there is no evidence of service connection or exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of her diabetes complications.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected diabetes and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus was granted at a 20 percent level prior to October 14, 2009. As of October 14, 2009, the disability is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized expenses for medication for diabetes mellitus from September 15, 2005 to December 13, 2006 is granted. The criteria were met as the treatment was medically necessary and feasible.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a disability manifested by temporary memory loss and respiratory disabilities, were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or etiological links to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40% from July 28, 2008 onwards. The low back disorder is rated as 40% disabling overall.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and PTSD were denied. The claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetic retinopathy. The Veteran's hypertension was not found to be related to his diabetes mellitus, and there is no evidence that it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition. His diabetic retinopathy has also been denied as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during active military service. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues include service connection for multiple disabilities, including right knee, left knee, right shoulder, left shoulder, respiratory disorder, anemia, and edema of lower extremities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to it. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure are denied. The claim of service connection for a prostate disorder other than cancer is pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, which was secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II, has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and diabetes mellitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that his diabetes required regulation of activities, nor did it reflect any further compensable complications of diabetes. For PTSD, the Board noted that while he had some symptoms consistent with a 70% rating, such as suicidal ideation and unprovoked irritability, these were not shown to be present at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral cataracts, and erectile dysfunction due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection is established for Type II diabetes mellitus on a presumptive basis as the disease manifests within one year of separation from service. Bilateral cataracts are considered secondary to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus. Erectile dysfunction is considered secondary to medication used to treat PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy have been dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, diabetic retinopathy, and coronary artery disease. The decision also addressed silicosis but did not provide a rating or effective date.