The veteran's diabetes mellitus, with its complications, was found to have increased in severity within a year of his active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.
The deciding factor: Diabetes mellitus preexisted service and manifested to a degree of 10% or more within one year post-service, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- weight loss, high blood sugar, low sodium, nerve damage, diarrhea, visual impairment
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 18, 2002
- Citation
- 0216520
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 0216520.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for pruritus and service connection for nerve damage are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination reports and internal inconsistencies in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms, including IBS, constipation, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids, need further evaluation.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including stroke, neck condition, headaches, and nerve damage, prevent her from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
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