The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 6, 2012 for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 has been granted. The earliest date of a pending claim was April 25, 2002.
The deciding factor: A declassified official service department record (Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report: Base Defense in Thailand) that existed but had not been associated with the claims file prior to the Veteran's original claim for diabetes mellitus on April 25, 2002 was later associated with the claims file. This record is considered an 'official service department' declassified record within the meaning of 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(c).
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type 2
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 27, 2017
- Citation
- 1713784
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 1713784.
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 has vacated the January 2026 decision granting service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 due to fraudulent evidence. The Veteran's claim is denied as there is no credible evidence linking his diabetes to service or a service-connected condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos and Agent Orange during service. The claims are now pending for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bradyarrhythmia status post dual-chamber pacemaker placement, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus, type 2 due to a failure to verify the Veteran's reported herbicide agent exposure during service. The AOJ is instructed to take all appropriate steps to verify this exposure and issue a TERA memorandum regarding toxic exposures.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II due to potential exposure to Agent Orange during military service. The RO should obtain a TERA opinion considering all applicable exposures, including asbestos and ignited substances.
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