Diabetes Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus were denied. The veteran was granted service connection for diabetes mellitus in March 2002, with a 60 percent rating from January 23, 2001, and a 10 percent rating prior to that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and congestive heart failure, finding that there was no evidence of a disease in service or within one year after service, and that exposure to Agent Orange did not result in these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing the veteran with an opportunity to provide detailed information regarding his service stressors.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, Type II did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, a skin disorder, and asbestosis. The evidence did not support these claims based on current medical findings or lack of in-service disease or injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) on account of the need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him permanently bedridden or unable to care for himself without regular assistance.

The veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection, and his current disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, but determined that an effective date prior to February 15, 2000 is not warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's currently claimed eye disorders, including cataracts with macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service. The Board concluded that these conditions are more likely due to age-related processes rather than service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran seeks service connection for various conditions allegedly related to exposure to ionizing radiation during military service. He also wishes to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a hernia disorder. The claims are being remanded due to the unavailability of his service medical and personnel records, as well as other pertinent treatment records.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not related to any injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service, including his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied reopening the claim for service connection for a lung disability due to asbestos exposure and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is currently rated at 20 percent disabling. The evidence does not support a higher rating as the condition requires insulin and a restricted diet but no regulation of daily activities.

The Board found no evidence of current diabetes mellitus and denied the veteran's claim for service connection, concluding that there is not a link between his claimed condition and his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are being REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration if appropriate.

The veteran's cause of death was metastatic prostate cancer, with other significant conditions including atrial fibrillation, deep venous thrombosis (legs), non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and cerebral vascular accidents. The Board found that the service-connected disability did not cause or hasten his death, and there is no evidence linking the veteran's fatal disease processes to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected diabetic retinopathy does not warrant a disability rating greater than 10 percent at any time since the effective date of the grant of service connection.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including diabetes, hypertension, left arm/hand hemiparesis, and a substance abuse disorder, do not permanently prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. As he failed to report for a VA medical examination without good cause, his claim is denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II associated with herbicide exposure. However, the VA has not made official attempts to verify whether or not the USS Kearsarge carried herbicide drums during his deployment in Vietnam waters.