Diabetes Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability, and her service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is manifested by tenderness on palpation without functional limitation. The initial evaluations for tinea versicolor, polynephritis, and tinnitus are denied as well.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 27, 2002 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The criteria for establishing an earlier effective date were not met as it was not factually ascertainable that the veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him totally disabled within one year prior to September 27, 2002.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death (pneumonia, congestive heart failure due to atherosclerotic heart disease, and diabetes mellitus) is not related to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

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

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred during active service due to his Vietnam-era service, and he is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, finding that no informal claim was made prior to April 17, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that there is no current medical diagnosis of the condition and thus not incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and secondary service connection for heart disease and hypertension as they were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, which he claims is due to exposure to Agent Orange during his naval service. The VA has not verified all of the specific instances of Agent Orange exposure and needs to conduct further development including obtaining records from the Fresno VAMC, verifying the veteran's accounts with the Naval Historical Center, and ensuring that all relevant medical records are obtained.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, effective August 16, 2001. The RO also granted a 30 percent rating for coronary artery disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus, effective February 20, 2004.,The veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent, and his left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and no current medical evidence linking the condition to service.

The veteran died of sepsis due to renal and cardiac failure as a consequence of his diabetes mellitus while hospitalized at the Hospital San Cristobal. The Board concludes that he did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits because he was not properly hospitalized by VA at the time of his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection based on the current criteria.

The veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities, with a combined rating of 80% (CAD at 60%, diabetes mellitus at 20%). The decision also addresses the increased ratings for CAD and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus on a presumptive basis due to exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, which is presumed to be service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, requires insulin and a restricted diet. However, regulation of activities is not shown. Therefore, an increased rating beyond 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for higher ratings for acne and diabetes mellitus due to a lack of VCAA notification, as well as the need for additional examinations.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were denied by the RO. The RO found that his service-connected conditions did not warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current diabetes mellitus or chloracne to his military service, including any presumed exposure to herbicides. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.