The Veteran was granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, the cause of death (endstage Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and diabetes mellitus), and bilateral hearing loss due to in-service herbicide exposure.,Service connection is also granted for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service near the DMZ. Given this exposure, his diabetes mellitus is presumed to be related to service. His bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are also presumptively related to diabetes mellitus.,His hypertension is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, cause of death (endstage Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and diabetes mellitus), bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2018
- Citation
- 1800721
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 1800721.
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 withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
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.