Diabetes Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's motion to revise a May 2003 decision that disallowed an earlier effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus, finding no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and determined that it was incurred in service. The heart disease is found to be proximately due to or aggravated by the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, headaches, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The veteran did not have a pre-existing condition that was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The veteran's other claims of increased evaluations and separate evaluation for diabetic retinopathy are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The veteran is seeking service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and a chronic acquired disorder manifested by dizziness, both claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The case must be remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, requiring insulin and a restricted diet but not hospitalization for ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions, did not warrant a rating greater than 40 percent from April 22, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicides including Agent Orange and for a back disability on direct basis. The claims were not reopened.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for diabetes mellitus, finding that the current treatment (insulin and restricted diet) does not require regulation of activities.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, associated with herbicide exposure (Agent Orange), is currently rated at 40 percent. The appeal does not involve a new evidence claim or service connection for other conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension are not related to his military service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, as well as his claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction. The decision also addressed a claim for diabetic retinopathy but did not issue a SOC.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and could not be presumed to be due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, and lung disability including asthma and allergy, all presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure. The right great toe injury claim was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that there was no evidence he served in Vietnam and thus could not be presumed exposed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic retinopathy and for increased evaluations for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The RO continued a 20 percent evaluation for diabetes mellitus and granted service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy with noncompensable ratings.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred due to his service in the Republic of Vietnam, and he was granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type 2 as a result of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. Service connection for a colon disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, low back disorder (previously characterized as developmental anomaly of the lumbar spine), hypertension, edema of the feet, ankles, hands, abdomen, and face, diabetes mellitus, abnormal laboratory findings, fibromyalgia, lupus, multiple sclerosis, liver disability (to include cirrhosis), respiratory (lung) disability, osteoarthritis of the major and minor joints, eye disability, tremors of the upper extremities, carpal tunnel syndrome, Meniere's syndrome, headaches with dizziness, nausea, and lightheadedness, chronic Candida, low back pain with pain radiating into the hips (previously characterized as developmental anomaly of the lumbar spine), an acquired hamstring disorder, an acquired bilateral hip disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, and a bilateral elbow disorder. However, service connection is not established for any of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for diabetes mellitus and hepatitis C are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.