The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred as a result of his active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The issues regarding increased ratings for service-connected lumbosacral strain and generalized anxiety disorder, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.
The deciding factor: The veteran's diabetes mellitus was not shown to be related to his active military service or any incident thereof, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein due to herbicide exposure. The Board found no evidence verifying the veteran's alleged Agent Orange exposure at Lackland Air Force Base and thus could not presume such exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, generalized anxiety disorder, lumbosacral strain
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 12, 2006
- Citation
- 0600938
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst, and service connection for headaches, unspecified. Several issues were remanded.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.