The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, blindness (including enucleation of the left eye), kidney failure, resection of metatarsal head toes, amputation of toes, and fistulas. These conditions are presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was caused by his service-connected blindness (including enucleation of the left eye), kidney failure, resection of metatarsal head toes, amputation of toes, and fistulas. The Board has granted presumptive service connection for these conditions based on herbicide exposure during service.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, blindness, to include enucleation of the left eye, kidney failure, including end stage renal disease, resection of the metatarsal head of the 2nd and 3rd toes of the right foot, amputation of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd toes of the left foot, fistulas
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 16, 2017
- Citation
- 1733389
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 1733389.
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 service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
- Granted
The Veteran's Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular Aid and Attendance is granted as of April 25, 2024.,For diabetes mellitus, a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.
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.