The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, depression, diabetic retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The appeal is granted based on presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his military service in Vietnam, which has been established by VA regulations. Diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic retinopathy, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities are presumed to be related to such exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type II, depression, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 2, 2010
- Citation
- 1033121
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 1033121.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Denied
The Veteran's depression was rated at 50 percent prior to July 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. For TDIU, the Veteran had multiple service-connected disabilities but his education and work experience were sufficient for sedentary or light labor employment.
- Granted
The Veteran's depression was rated at 50 percent prior to September 27, 2017. From September 27, 2017, the rating for depression increased to 70 percent.
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