The Veteran's specific phobia of rats, which developed during service and is related to his exposure to rats in the Dominican Republic, has been granted service connection. Service connection for DMII has also been granted as secondary to PTSD.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on a finding that the rat phobia symptoms are a manifestation of a separate psychiatric disorder from PTSD, and were caused by an event in service (exposure to rats). The DMII was found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Specific, animal-type phobia (claimed as phobia of rats), Type II diabetes mellitus (DMII)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- July 11, 2011
- Citation
- 1125963
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 1125963.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus.,Service connection has also been granted for hypertension, which is found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus and obesity as an intermediate step.,Additionally, the Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus (DMII), determined to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus with obesity as an intermediate factor.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The case is remanded to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure in Vietnam.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuropathy of both legs do not warrant evaluations in excess of 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension did not occur secondary to and is not aggravated by service-connected PTSD or DMII.
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.