Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD has aggravated his non-service connected hypertension, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death, which is currently under review.

The veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been granted, with a rating of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus and 10 percent each for diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred as a result of his active military service due to herbicide exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Charcot joint collapse of the right foot, arthritis of the right knee, and arthritis of the left knee were all denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the veteran did not have service in Vietnam and thus could not establish presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's appeal is denied as he received the appropriate amount of VA compensation for the period from June 1986 to October 2003.

The Board has granted restoration of service connection for diabetes mellitus type I and denied service connection for residuals of a left foot puncture wound. The veteran's diabetes was initially diagnosed in service, but the RO proposed to sever it due to lack of current evidence. After review, the Board found no clear and unmistakable error warranting severance. Service connection for the left foot injury is denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing a current disability related to active military service.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues listed in the caption, and therefore these claims are dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange and noting that the current diagnosis was not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral foot ulcers were not caused by negligence or fault on VA's part, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD does not warrant an initial rating greater than 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin condition (claimed as acne), sinusitis, bronchitis, right knee condition with arthritis, diabetes mellitus type II, and erectile dysfunction. The appeals are currently pending due to the need for further development of the hypertension claim.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, as well as a compensable rating for tinea cruris. The claim to reopen a claim for service connection for oligospermia/infertility was also denied.

The Board denied an increase in a 20 percent rating for diabetes mellitus, but the veteran's hypertension and arthritis claims are not currently on appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus existed prior to service and was not aggravated by active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type I is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The issues are whether he is entitled to increased ratings for his coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, both associated with herbicide exposure during service.

The Board found that the objective and competent medical evidence does not show a link between the veteran's current lung disorders, including COPD, and his military service. The VA examiner diagnosed the veteran with COPD due to smoking cigarettes, and did not find any evidence of asbestosis or asbestosis-related conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic retinopathy, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU determination as they preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.