Diabetes Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not attributable to nicotine dependence or service connection, and denied the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder related to service, specifically depression. As such, the claim for service connection for depression is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for DM with ED, peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is presumed related to service. The Veteran does not have a current perirectal disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 3, 2006, for the grant of service connection for diabetes type II. The Veteran did not file a formal claim prior to this date and there is no evidence indicating that he sought benefits within one year after separation from active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension and determined that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The issue of whether diabetes mellitus is secondary to chronic pancreatitis was also addressed, but no decision was made as it fell outside the scope of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records from the Elgin, Illinois VA outpatient clinic. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling updated VA examinations.

The Veteran claims service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he asserts is due to exposure to herbicides during his military service. The Board finds that further verification of the Veteran's in-country service and potential exposure to herbicides is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information provided by VA in its request for verification of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's service records and a search with JSRRC are required.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus has been productive of fluctuating blood sugar levels that require insulin, restricted diet, and limited activities due to hypoglycemic symptoms. The Board finds the criteria for a 40 percent evaluation have been met.

The Veteran's skin disease, including psoriasis and a benign tumor or tumors, was not found to be related to service-connected right below-the-knee amputation. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, vascular disease (exclusive of peripheral vascular disease of the right lower extremity), arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, and kidney failure were all determined to be unrelated to military service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, diabetes mellitus, and WPW syndrome. The claims for diabetes mellitus and WPW syndrome were also not reopened.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide exposure, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in service and insufficient evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, depression, a heart condition, and hypertension.

The Veteran's renal disease, diagnosed as diabetic nephrosclerosis, is at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and warrants a separate compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain alone does not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and cataracts have been rated appropriately, with the diabetes receiving a 20 percent rating and cataracts receiving a noncompensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type I and Type II diabetes mellitus have been granted as secondary to his pre-existing type I diabetes mellitus. The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of both types of diabetes are related to his active military service.