Diabetes Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran did not have diabetes at the time of his death, and therefore it could not have contributed to his cause of death. The appellant's claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus effective from November 28, 2001. The veteran's claim for higher ratings remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a back disorder, as well as his increased rating claims. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and right great toe amputation on a secondary basis to service-connected frostbite residuals. The veteran's assertions alone cannot be dispositive of the issue for purposes of reopening the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 1, 2004 for a grant of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The decision found that it was not factually ascertainable prior to March 1, 2004 that the veteran was unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing, as requested by the veteran. The veteran's claim of reopening his diabetes mellitus type II service connection will be further reviewed after the hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to presumed exposure to herbicides and for specially adapted housing and housing assistance.

The Board found that the appellant's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's current back, diabetes mellitus, and psychiatric disabilities are not related to his active duty service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (type II diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, and coronary artery disease) do not render him unemployable. The Board finds that the evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The conditions are not found to be related to his active service or directly caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support finding that the cirrhosis was caused or aggravated by the diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following some type of substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 8, 2001 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The effective date is based on liberalizing legislation that allowed presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure starting from May 8, 2001.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, and TDIU are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of his service-connected disabilities and the impact on employment.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of his case.

The Board has granted a 50% evaluation for the veteran's service-connected headaches and found that he is entitled to this higher rating. The claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was also granted, as there is current evidence of the condition. However, the issue regarding residuals of right neck and shoulder injury remains pending due to new evidence submitted.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before a decision could be made.