The Board has determined that the veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during service, and therefore is not entitled to presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus. The claims of secondary service connection for diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension with renal insufficiency are denied as they are premised on a presumed service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service records do not show any duty in or visitation to the Republic of Vietnam. There is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, thus precluding presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension with renal insufficiency
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2006
- Citation
- 0608590
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for spinal stenosis, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cervical spine condition, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, lumbar spine condition, and urinary frequency and voiding condition as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
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