Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus should be October 16, 2000, as this is the earliest date on which a claim was received by VA. The veteran's entitlement to service connection arose no earlier than April 1997.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the veteran's claims of service connection for pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus. The case will be remanded to the Houston RO for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and finds that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is secondary to his hepatitis C. The issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to hepatitis C is remanded.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, diabetic retinopathy, and peripheral vascular disease due to lack of verified in-service stressor for PTSD, absence of a diagnosis for diabetic retinopathy or peripheral vascular disease during service or subsequent thereto, and failure to meet criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, effective May 28, 2003. From that date, separate 10 percent ratings are granted for neuropathy of each foot.

The veteran claims service connection for diabetes mellitus, secondary to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The VA is required to verify the veteran's claimed in-country service and will conduct further searches of government records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, left knee disability, and back disability. The claim for right knee disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The dental disability claim was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or due to active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to outstanding development needs.

The veteran's death was not caused or materially contributed to by his service-connected disability, and the significant conditions contributing to his death were unrelated to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran served in Vietnam and is therefore entitled to the presumptions for Agent Orange exposure, leading to a grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema and end-stage renal disease are all service-connected due to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is related to and aggravated by his service-connected hypertension, warranting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents and denying presumptive service connection. The Board also noted that there was no evidence linking current diabetes to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent, as it only requires oral hypoglycemic agents and a restricted diet.

The Board has determined that further development of the evidence is needed before deciding the claims for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current eye disorders are related to service or his diabetes. The issue of secondary service connection for hypertension is also being considered.

The veteran claims service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, which he asserts is a residual of exposure to herbicides during his military service. The claim is remanded due to the lack of supporting evidence showing that all members of Patrol Squadron Forty-Seven were involved in duty or visitation on the ground in Vietnam.

The veteran died due to myocardial infarction, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and non-insulin dependent diabetes. The service-connected disabilities did not cause his death.