The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange) and a compensable disability rating for pleural thick thickening consistent with asbestos-related pleural disease. The decision is based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service or presumptive exposure.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service medical records were negative for any indication of diabetes mellitus, and there was no evidence connecting the development of diabetes mellitus to his period of active duty. Additionally, the veteran did not have qualifying service in Vietnam during the Vietnam Era that would entitle him to a presumption of exposure to Agent Orange.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, pleural thick thickening consistent with asbestos-related pleural disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 10, 2003
- Citation
- 0327247
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 0327247.
What this means for you
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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 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular Aid and Attendance is granted as of April 25, 2024.,For diabetes mellitus, a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.
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