Diabetes
Type II diabetes is a presumptive condition for veterans with qualifying Agent Orange / herbicide exposure, which can remove the need to prove a nexus.
Across 5,467 real Board appeals for Diabetes
65% were granted, partly granted, or remanded.
A denial is often not the end — remands are sent back for more development and frequently end in a grant.
- Granted 17%
- Partly granted 19%
- Remanded 30%
- Denied 28%
What tends to win
Among the appeals that were granted or partly granted, the most common ways Diabetes was linked to service:
- Direct service connection873
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)513
- Secondary to another service-connected condition245
How it’s rated, in practice
When Diabetes was granted, the rating most often assigned was:
- 100% (381)
- 20% (57)
- 40% (56)
- 10% (49)
- 70% (37)
Presumptive & exposure paths
These appeals involved a recognized exposure — which can mean the link to service is presumed, with no nexus to prove:
- Agent Orange / herbicides684
- PACT Act391
- Burn pits & airborne hazards189
- Camp Lejeune water117
- Gulf War68
Real decisions
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Subic Bay, Philippines.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that Type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension, which are presumed to have resulted from herbicide exposure during service, contributed substantially to his demise.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bladder cancer, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and an acquired psychiatric disability (unspecified depressive disorder), but denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus, Type 2 as secondary to the chronic pancreatitis.
What you can do next
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.