Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's widow is seeking service connection for various conditions, including cardiovascular disability, cold injury to the feet, diabetes mellitus, and others. The appeal is remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and degenerative disc disease have been denied as there is no credible evidence showing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 1, 2009 for additional compensation benefits for a dependent spouse is denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not provide information about his dependents until June 23, 2009, more than three years after he was initially granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, nor is it secondary to his service-connected hypertension. For his bilateral hearing loss, there was no evidence of an increased disability warranting a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, pes planus, peripheral artery disease, and glaucoma. The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder claim was not addressed as it is related to a different issue.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable. The case will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 8, 2006 for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and ringworm of the bilateral legs was denied as there is no indication that he submitted a formal or informal claim within one year of his discharge from service. The earliest possible effective date is December 8, 2006, the day the Veteran's claims were received by the RO.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly pension are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records, including SSA disability determination and personnel file. A VA examination is also required.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus was denied. For the period prior to March 4, 2008, his disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. For the period beginning on March 4, 2008, his disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer are denied as there is no legal basis to grant such requests.

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD, which is related to verified in-service stressors.,Service connection was denied for a neurological disorder of the legs due to diabetes mellitus.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer were not incurred in service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and visual impairment, finding that these conditions did not manifest during or as a result of his active military service. The Board also found no evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's surviving spouse does not meet the criteria for an increased rate of DIC benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to her conditions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, rated at 40 percent disabling since August 9, 2007, and associated disabilities have brought his combined rating to 70 percent. The Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU effective from March 1, 2011.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 7913.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to determine his actual service in Vietnam and whether he was exposed to herbicides. The secondary service-connection claims will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully consider the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, including obtaining VA treatment records and ensuring proper notice.