The veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. His low back strain disability was increased from 10% to 20%. The veteran does not dispute these determinations and the appeal for an increased rating has not been withdrawn.
The deciding factor: The veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to his service due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, as it falls under the presumptive service connection criteria established by VA regulations. His low back strain was rated at 20% based on the evidence of record and no further appeal for an increased rating has been submitted.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, low back strain
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 18, 2001
- Citation
- 0118715
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0118715.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all his appeals, including the one for an increased rating for low back strain.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
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