Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus does not warrant a higher evaluation as it only requires a restricted diet and no regulation of activities or insulin.

The VA has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and assigned a disability rating of 20 percent effective April 24, 2001. The veteran's diabetes is currently treated with oral hypoglycemic agents.

The Board denied service connection for pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus, with the latter being claimed as secondary to pancreatitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, arthritis of multiple joints, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence showing these conditions began during or were otherwise related to his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's current diabetes mellitus was at least as likely as not aggravated by the thiazide diuretics prescribed for his service-connected glomerulonephritis with hypertension and abnormal EKG disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of presumptive service connection due to exposure to Agent Orange or other specified conditions.

The Board has determined that the original grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus associated with Agent Orange exposure was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and thus the RO properly severed this service connection.

The veteran's representative argues for a higher initial evaluation of 100 percent for diabetes mellitus, citing multiple complications. The Board finds additional examination and treatment records are needed to determine the severity.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed respiratory disorder and denied his claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has granted separate evaluations of 50 percent for the veteran's right (major) upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, 40 percent for his left (minor) upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, and 20 percent each for his right and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy. The evaluations are effective as of February 9, 2005.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The veteran's main contention is that his disabilities are causally related to herbicide exposure or other contamination during service. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining the veteran's service personnel records and attempting to verify any allegations of herbicide exposure at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange and no in-service diagnosis or symptoms. The Board also found that the veteran did not serve in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II due to exposure to herbicide agents, as there was no evidence showing a relationship between the condition and service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, which is presumed due to his diabetes mellitus. The Board also found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus contributed to his demise.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as there is no evidence of restricted activities or complications requiring hospitalization.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's congestive heart failure and diabetes mellitus to his military service.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus, finding that the disability more nearly approximates the criteria for a 20 percent rating.

The Board determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus did not begin during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claim for service connection.