Diabetes Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD and PTSD, render him unemployable.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a low back disability, but denied his claim for diabetes mellitus.,VA is seeking to obtain additional medical records from the VA Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 22, 2004 for the grant of a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of evidence showing that the veteran filed an informal claim prior to November 2004 or that his service-connected disabilities underwent an increase in severity within one year prior to November 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of depressive disorder, PTSD, or any other service-connected disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral diabetic retinopathy and service connection for DJD of the right knee and thoracolumbar spine were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected residuals of a left knee injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and there is no evidence of record showing that any of his claimed disabilities are related to military service or exposure to ionizing radiation. As such, service connection is denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeal of the claims for increased ratings and TDIU.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's unauthorized medical services provided by a private hospital were denied as the condition did not constitute an emergency and no VA facilities were feasibly available.

The veteran's claim for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy is denied as there is no evidence of these conditions.,The veteran's claim for hypertension is denied as the examiner found it not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, but did not address whether it was aggravated by it.,The veteran's skin rash on the back and neck is denied as there is no evidence of a current condition.

The veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus was received in April 1988, and the RO granted service connection effective from that date. The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date but the Board finds that the earliest possible effective date is April 13, 1988.

The veteran's claim is being remanded for further development to determine the specific extent and severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, including any aggravation or causation by hypertension. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The veteran's application for RH insurance was denied because he did not meet the 'good health' requirements, as his total debits exceeded the allowable number of debits for approval of the insurance.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluation of diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that the current evidence did not support a finding of a current disability manifested by fever, and service connection for bilateral foot and leg disorder was also denied due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition to service or Agent Orange exposure.,Service connection for multiple myopathy (presumed due to Agent Orange exposure) was granted. The veteran's skin disorder claim is pending as there are no current findings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, diabetes mellitus, Type II as secondary to PTSD and stomach disorders, and osteoarthritis of the right hip, status post total arthroplasty due to cold injury. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition, infertility, microhematuria, and diabetes mellitus, all of which were related to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's death was caused by his type II diabetes mellitus, a condition presumptively service-connected due to exposure to Agent Orange. The effective date for the grant of service connection for the cause of his death is set at November 1, 1996.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to diabetes mellitus type 2, which was incurred in or aggravated by military service. The claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.

The veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had service-connected disabilities that were rated as totally disabling for a continuous period of at least one year immediately preceding his death. However, the claim is denied because the veteran did not meet the requirement of having been continuously rated totally disabled by VA for 10 years or more immediately preceding his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, warranting service connection.,There is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for residuals from cerebrovascular accident.