Diabetes Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, residuals of a gunshot wound to the left foot, Type II diabetes mellitus, and PTSD were denied. The Board found no evidence linking any current conditions to military service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for acquired nicotine dependence and associated respiratory disorders, impotence as secondary to service-connected prostatitis, otitis media, diabetes mellitus, and esophageal hernia (secondary to service-connected sinusitis).

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and the earlier effective date claim for bilateral hammertoes. The veteran's diabetes was not found to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure. Service connection for bilateral hammertoes was granted but with an effective date of July 29, 2002.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is not service connected. The Board dismissed the appeal for this condition as the veteran requested withdrawal of his claim. Secondary service connection was granted for sleep disorder. Service connection was denied for left knee disability, right hand disability, breathing problems, and skin rash.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have diabetes mellitus, type II due to service or any other event or incident in his period of active service. The claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to a lack of credible evidence supporting his claimed stressors during active duty.

The veteran's recurrent boils in the rear of the neck are found to be due to treatment for the same condition during service while serving in Vietnam. The arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetic retinopathy, heart murmur, and hypertension are not considered service-connected.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The veteran also has non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy which warrants a separate 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides or other disease/injury in service that could have caused his current condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including high blood pressure, back disorder, left leg pain (other than peripheral neuropathy related to diabetes mellitus type II), depression, hyperglycemia, bilateral knee disorders, right hip disorder, and bilateral foot disorder. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection in these cases.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure, remains under consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus does not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating, and his hypertension warrants a separate 10 percent rating.

The veteran's claim for evaluations of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both feet is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The veteran has lost the use of his right hand and foot due to peripheral neuropathy, qualifying him for special monthly compensation. He is also eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment and specially adapted housing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular accident, vision loss of the right eye, and hypertension. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and the veteran's active service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.,The veteran has a permanent loss of use of one hand (left), meeting criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to independently perform daily functions of self-care and to protect himself from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment, warranting special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding no evidence of their onset or association with the veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that the causes of the veteran's death (coronary artery disease, anemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus) are not service-connected.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and assigned an effective date of December 10, 2001.