Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding that the February 1999 claim was not a service connection claim and that the change in law regarding presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus did not apply due to the one-year rule.

The Board has determined that the issue of whether a motorized scooter is necessary and appropriate for the veteran's care and treatment is a medical determination outside its jurisdiction, thus dismissing the appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have type II diabetes mellitus as a result of service or herbicide exposure, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the veteran's service-connected rheumatic heart disease caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has granted a rating of 60 percent for the service-connected diabetes mellitus, which is the highest available rating under VA's rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for secondary service connection are denied as there is no evidence of record showing that his claimed conditions were aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The veteran's appeal of his claims for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance, and automobile and adaptive equipment to accommodate service-connected disabilities is being held in abeyance until the RO adjudicates his pending increased rating and service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus requires insulin, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities with severe edema in his legs making it difficult for him to care for his children. The criteria for a 40 percent rating are met.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II was granted a 40 percent disability rating effective August 25, 2005. His peripheral neuropathy and arteriosclerotic vascular disease of the lower extremities were each increased to 20 percent ratings effective October 8, 2002 and February 12, 2003 respectively. The veteran's erectile dysfunction was granted special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ effective May 8, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking the veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or depression to his service-connected conditions or to exposure to herbicides. As such, the claims for secondary service connection are denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation and consideration of his service-connected diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, including the impact of recent lab results and whether an extra-schedular rating is warranted.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. However, the earlier effective date claim for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of prior decision before May 3, 1989.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, diabetes mellitus (due to herbicide exposure), and hepatitis B. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service injuries or exposures related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus requires twice daily insulin injections, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of complications. The hypertension claim was reopened based on new evidence.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's hypertension, hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or diabetes mellitus to his service and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury, chest pain initially claimed as a heart condition, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus has been rated at 20 percent since February 2001, and the Board finds that a higher initial rating is not warranted prior to June 24, 2005. For the period from June 24, 2005 onward, the Board also denies an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder and diabetes mellitus need further examination and development. The RO is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records, review the veteran's claims file by the examiners who provided the May and June 2003 VA examinations, and provide an addendum addressing whether the veteran's conditions are related to service or within one year of service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and residuals of a hysterectomy. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to her military service or herbicide exposure.