Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and reopening of previously denied claims were all denied by the Board. The Veteran was granted a rating for tinnitus but not for hearing loss or other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination regarding his Hepatitis C and an initial rating for diabetes mellitus. The issues of service connection for Hepatitis C and a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus are also pending.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus. The issues of entitlement to a TDIU have been referred to the RO.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic rectal cancer, which is not service-connected. The Board found no evidence linking the cancer or its causes to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, and traumatic amputation of the fingers, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that his TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities are currently rated based on their direct effects without any additional service connection or presumption.

The Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or type 2 diabetes mellitus for VA purposes. The Board finds that the Veteran's service did not result in these disabilities, and there is no evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease due to diabetes mellitus, was not caused or contributed to by a service-connected disability. The Board found that the Veteran's disabilities did not substantially contribute to his death.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn as to his right knee disorder, left knee disorder, hearing loss, multiple arthralgias (joint pain), and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that it is not related to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted, with effective dates prior to December 6, 2004. The Veteran was also awarded a TDIU.

The Veteran's heart disease is presumed to be due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and skin disease are being remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, but the underlying issue of whether it is related to military service remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, effective February 24, 2006. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met prior to this date.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus and remanded the case for a new VA examination to address both causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain medical records. The issues of increased rating for diabetes mellitus, Type II and higher initial rating for service connected bilateral hearing loss are on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, hernia, dental trauma, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for bilateral flat feet, there was no evidence of a current hernia or residuals thereof related to military service, and the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the other conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, a spinal disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, medial epicondylitis, and colon polyps, were denied as the evidence did not show their onset during active military service or within an applicable presumptive period thereafter.