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's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.
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.