Diabetes Board decisions

The Court has determined that service connection should be restored for the veteran's diabetes and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for diabetes mellitus and service connection for PTSD. The initial rating for diabetes mellitus was not granted, and the evaluation for PTSD was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus did not arise during his honorable service period and is not related to his second period of active service, which was characterized by a resignation for the good of the service. The RO's decision denying service connection for diabetes mellitus was upheld.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional pertinent medical evidence and new evidence since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected conditions, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material to reopen the claim for service connection for low back disability, hypertension (claimed as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus), and coronary artery disease (claimed as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus).

The veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection. The claim for a skin rash is also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection for multiple myeloma, diabetes mellitus, and essential tremors were denied as there is no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his active service.,Specifically, the Board found that the veteran did not engage in a radiation risk activity during his military service. The evidence does not support a grant of presumptive service connection based on exposure to ionizing radiation.

The veteran's service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities were granted increased ratings to 40 percent effective April 8, 2008.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The issues of increased ratings for diabetic neuropathy and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of the veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus and determined that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board also found that the current symptomatology is at least in equipoise with a relationship to active service, warranting service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left eardrum rupture and PTSD were denied. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus prior to July 6, 2005 was also denied. However, the veteran's TDIU claim was not addressed as it is unclear if this issue was part of his appeal.

The veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus and multiple myeloma, both of which are associated with exposure to Agent Orange. The RO has determined that the veteran was exposed to herbicides in Korea but not during the specified time period. A VA examination is needed to determine if his current conditions could be related to this exposure.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are not supported by the evidence of record. The claim for ear disorder (to include hearing loss) is reopened, but further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board has restored service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, residuals of peripheral vascular disease, left below-the-knee amputation and contractures of the right lower extremity, peripheral vascular disease of the right hand, and peripheral vascular disease of the left hand based on new medical evidence that supports the original grant of service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicides and no in-service or post-service diagnosis. Service connection was also not granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the claim is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim.