Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no medical evidence linking the condition to mustard gas exposure or his service-connected gastrointestinal disability.

The Board denied service connection for herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine and recurrent hernia. Service connection was also denied for diabetes mellitus including complications of diabetes mellitus and an eye disorder.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus does not require insulin or the regulation of activities, and thus a higher rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not incurred as a result of his active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the September 1993 rating decision is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's requests to reopen his service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease with hypertension.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent from August 29, 2003 to January 15, 2004 and a rating in excess of 20 percent from January 15, 2004.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but he received a TDIU with an effective date of February 13, 2004. The decision is mixed as it granted the earlier effective date for the TDIU.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected diabetic neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and updated treatment records.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The veteran's initial evaluation for Type II diabetes mellitus was granted at a 20 percent rating, effective October 30, 2001. The condition requires insulin and restricted diet but does not require avoidance of strenuous activities.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The right knee disability has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling since March 2004, but the veteran contends for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected, and her diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The right thumb disability has been granted as service-connected but the initial evaluation remains at 20%.

The veteran's claims of secondary service connection for various conditions, including circulatory disorder, glaucoma, hypertension, kidney disease, interventricular bleeding, residuals of a stroke, and seizure disorder are being granted as they are presumed to be related to his diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure during the Vietnam War.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities as a result of service or service-connected conditions, and therefore denied all claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus and service connection for bilateral cataracts, finding no evidence to support either claim.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently manifested by required oral medication, a restricted diet, and visits to his primary care provider every three months. The disability does not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on more severe manifestations such as insulin requirement or hospitalizations. As such, the claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus was denied.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicides was denied as there was no prior formal or informal claim filed before September 2001, and the liberalizing regulation adding Type II diabetes mellitus to the list of disabilities for which presumptive service connection could be granted based on exposure to herbicides in Vietnam took effect on May 8, 2001.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including vaginitis with moniliasis, bilateral axillary adenitis, chronic urinary tract infections, sinusitis, fibrocystic breast disease, a left knee disorder (secondary to right knee disability), diabetes mellitus, and a bilateral foot condition. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. His tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus, and PTSD were all evaluated based on their current status without additional rating adjustments.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against granting service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to lack of exposure to Agent Orange during service. The veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, hemorrhoids, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and impingement syndrome with history of tendonitis of the left shoulder are currently rated as 10 percent each.