Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed conditions such as sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, major depression, or PTSD. The service connection claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, liver transplant, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy were denied as they are not shown to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran is service connected for chronic renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. His disabilities have resulted in the loss of use of one lower extremity (left foot) and balance issues due to dizziness, which preclude locomotion without a wheelchair. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for specially adapted housing based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral peripheral neuropathy, lower extremities with effective dates of February 24, 2006. The Veteran's initial ratings have been assigned at the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying alleged stressors. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim will be evaluated based on current evidence of record, while his PTSD claim will require verification of claimed stressors.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, was denied. The RO granted service connection for hypertension but did not assign a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for asbestos-related lung disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 20, 2008 was denied. From October 20, 2008 onwards, the Veteran is entitled to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran was diagnosed with adult onset diabetes mellitus during active duty service and is currently diagnosed as having Type II diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that service connection for diabetes mellitus is warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral vision disability, resulting in blindness of the left eye and corrected central vision acuity of no worse than 20/70 in the right eye, does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy and neuropathy of both feet is currently rated at 40 percent, effective May 13, 2004.,From May 13, 2004 to October 18, 2006, the Veteran's right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy was rated at 10 percent; and his left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy was also rated at 10 percent.,Since October 18, 2006, the Veteran's right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy has been rated at 20 percent; and his left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy has been rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral diabetic retinopathy is currently rated at 30 percent.

The claim for service connection for pancreatitis has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been presented. Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus type II with minimal background retinopathy and cataracts, but no higher or earlier rating is warranted. Ratings of 10 percent are assigned for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for dementia, diabetes mellitus, and encephalitis, all claimed as due to radiation exposure during his military service. The evidence did not support a finding of radiation exposure or any link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic neuropathy, as well as his claim for an initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected scars of the right and left forearms, scalp, and back have been granted with noncompensable evaluations. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II is denied as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and the claim is not based on a presumption.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including gastrointestinal disorders, heart disorders, and bilateral eye disorders. The issues have been characterized as whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and those secondary to herbicide exposure, were denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year after separation. The Agent Orange presumption does not apply due to the Veteran's testimony that he did not set foot on Vietnam soil.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's rating schedule.