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
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
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- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus; granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and skin cancer; and restored the 10 percent rating for hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea to obtain a TERA opinion due to the Veteran's participation in a toxic exposure risk activity during his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.
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