The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not shown to be related to service, and the presumption of service connection for herbicide exposure does not apply.,Chronic headaches were not shown to have been present during service or are otherwise related to service. The Veteran has no current diagnosis of chronic headaches.,Lumbosacral disorder, including degenerative disc disease (DDD) and arthritis, was not shown to be related to service. The Veteran's low back pain started during service but the condition did not manifest within one year post-service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and there is no evidence that his elevated glucose levels are due to in-service exposure to herbicides or any other disease or injury. The claim for service connection based on herbicide exposure was denied because the Veteran's diabetes mellitus did not manifest within one year post-service.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic headaches, and there is no evidence that his headaches are related to in-service events or injuries. His headaches started during service but he has not provided any medical evidence linking them to service.,The Veteran's lumbosacral disorder did not manifest within one year post-service, and the condition was not shown to be related to in-service low back pain. The examiner noted that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine is as likely as not related to his service.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, headaches, lumbosacral disorder, to include degenerative disc disease (DDD) and arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 22, 2009
- Citation
- 0919487
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 0919487.
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 has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.