The veteran's claim for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus as a residual of Agent Orange exposure during service is denied. The Board found that the veteran did not have active military service in the Republic of Vietnam and thus was not exposed to Agent Orange, making it impossible to grant presumptive service connection. The veteran's claim for PTSD is also denied due to lack of credible supporting evidence.
The deciding factor: The veteran served aboard a destroyer in waters off the shore of the Republic of Vietnam but did not visit port in Vietnam. There is no evidence showing actual exposure to Agent Orange during service, and thus presumptive service connection cannot be granted. The claim for PTSD was denied as there is insufficient credible supporting evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- type 2 diabetes mellitus, amputation of right foot, alcohol dependence, personality disorder
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2005
- Citation
- 0500732
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,293 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0500732.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's need for regular aid and assistance of another person due to service-connected disabilities has been established, allowing him to receive special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance rate.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need to obtain an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability with alcohol dependence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for the cause of death and burial benefits due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the Veteran's exposure at Camp Lejeune, which could impact his eligibility for these benefits.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's TDIU for accrued benefits purposes is granted, and the initial compensable rating for his service-connected back scar is denied. The claims of higher ratings for lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.
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