Diabetes Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus associated with herbicide exposure, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and persistent foot ulcers, status post left great toe amputation is dismissed due to finality of previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as the condition is currently under fair control with oral medication and does not require insulin or a restricted diet. The claims for PTSD were partially granted, but the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating in excess of 50 percent after October 13, 2006. The claim to reopen service connection for a skin disorder was denied as no new and material evidence was presented.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus Type 2 with erectile dysfunction and glaucoma were denied. The Veteran's service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities was granted initial noncompensable disability ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his alleged in-service stressors and determine if he served in Vietnam. The issues of service connection for diabetes, basal cell carcinoma, a bilateral arm disorder, a bilateral foot disability, eye disabilities, and hypertension will be reconsidered after further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as it does not require insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated. The Veteran's current 40 percent evaluation for diabetes is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depression is related to his military service and granted service connection for major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease, which manifested to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, contributed substantially or materially to his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's CAD is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II due to presumed herbicide exposure. The initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent, and the TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, SSA records, and deck logs from his ship during his claimed in-service stressor event.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His claim for bilateral hearing loss was not granted as he did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. Service connection for hyperlipidemia and FSHD were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus is being remanded to allow for additional medical examination and review of records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rate of SMC on the basis of the need for aid and attendance of another person for purposes of accrued benefits, finding that evidence in VA's possession at the time of the Veteran's death was insufficient to establish a factual need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted the Veteran's earlier effective date claim for a 30 percent rating for dysthymic disorder and denied his other claims.

The Board has determined that diabetes mellitus is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus was denied, and his claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disability due to Agent Orange exposure was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate any regulation of activities required for a higher evaluation for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and diabetes mellitus are currently rated at the lowest possible levels, with no higher ratings warranted based on the evidence of record.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 40 percent, effective October 31, 2008. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity venous thrombophlebitis, high cholesterol, hernia, edema, heart disability (presumably referring to heart disease), and hypertension have been withdrawn. The Board also found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for psychiatric disability, claimed as depression and PTSD, due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.