The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of type II diabetes mellitus, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and peripheral diabetic neuropathy due to exposure to Agent Orange was granted by the RO on February 20, 2003 with an effective date of May 8, 2001. The veteran's original claim for service connection was received in June 19, 2001.
The deciding factor: The earlier effective date was granted based on the liberalizing regulation allowing service connection for type II diabetes mellitus on a presumptive basis due to exposure to Agent Orange, which became effective on May 8, 2001.
- Claimed conditions
- type II diabetes mellitus, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, peripheral diabetic neuropathy of both lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 8, 2004
- Citation
- 0432470
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 0432470.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding his service-connected conditions and related disability ratings, effective as of March 16, 2026.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, sinusitis, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to his active-duty service.
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