Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an initial increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus was dismissed due to the Veteran expressing his desire to withdraw from appellate review of this issue.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision below and are REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, DC. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran had peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity prior to December 4, 2003.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right fourth finger disorder, numbness of the left foot, and diabetes mellitus. The Board found that there was no current disability related to these conditions, with the exception of diabetes mellitus which is secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to unclear information regarding his exposure to herbicides during service. The Board needs to determine if the USS Passumpsic-AO-107 was stationed in inland waterways of Vietnam (Brown Water Service) when the Veteran served aboard the ship between May 1972 and October 1972.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides or ionizing radiation. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, which the Board has determined requires further development due to missing service personnel records and unavailability of in-country Vietnam service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under VA's rating criteria. The Board finds that his disability picture does not warrant a higher evaluation as there is no evidence of insulin and restricted diet with regulation of activities.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and denied the claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and heart disability as they are not presumed due to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicides during active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disorders and service connection for diabetes mellitus have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board found no evidence of a lung disability or diabetes mellitus in service and denied the Veteran's claims for these conditions. The Board also noted that there was no credible evidence of herbicide exposure during service, leading to denial of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a finding of herbicide exposure during service which is indicative of a history of such exposure. As diabetes mellitus is a disease associated with herbicide exposure, the claim is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The combined disability rating is 60% from June 20, 2002, and 100% from July 11, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient notice and a need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining if service connection is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of September 12, 2001. Effective November 14, 2002, his TDIU was granted with a rating of 50 percent.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes were not granted service connection due to lack of evidence linking them to his military service. The Veteran's current evaluation for diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II, and for increased ratings for stasis dermatitis and stasis edema of the lower extremities, as well as scars, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of herbicide exposure during service or any link between active duty service and the Veteran's current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, including as secondary to exposure to herbicides in service, is being remanded due to the need to verify if Agent Orange was present on his ship during his service.

The Veteran's diabetes, coronary artery disease, and nephropathy are not rated higher than the current levels. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for impotence or TDIU.