The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure was granted, with a retroactive effective date of August 27, 2007. Service connection and initial ratings were also granted for other conditions including CAD, arthritis (unspecified), back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, stomach disorder, and residuals of cold injury of the left hand.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was found to be associated with exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection. Service connection was granted for other conditions based on their association with his military service or as a result of new evidence submitted during the appeal process.
- Claimed conditions
- skin disorder, diabetes mellitus, arthritis (unspecified), back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, stomach disorder, residuals of a cold injury of the left hand
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- November 19, 2012
- Citation
- 1239726
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 1239726.
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 appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was noted upon entry into active duty service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.
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