The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated secondary disabilities (eye disability, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and kidney disability) due to presumed exposure to herbicides during active duty. Service connection was also granted for bilateral hearing loss as a result of in-service noise exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records show he had boots on the ground in Vietnam, presumptively exposing him to herbicide agents. His diabetes mellitus is presumed due to this exposure. The secondary disabilities are linked to his primary condition and his service record supports these findings.
- Claimed conditions
- Back disability, Bilateral hip disability, Diabetes mellitus, type II, Bilateral eye disability, Hypertension, Bilateral peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, Kidney disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2015
- Citation
- 1520934
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 1520934.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and active duty service.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
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