The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is found to have had its onset in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The ratings for his back and neck disabilities are remanded.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records show multiple elevated glucose readings prior to separation from service, which suggest pre-diabetes or early onset of diabetes mellitus. A private physician's opinion supports this finding, while a VA medical expert opined against it but provided limited probative value due to its cursory nature. The Veteran's contentions regarding his in-service management of high blood sugar levels are considered.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, dorsolumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (back disability), cervical spine degenerative disc disease (neck disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 8, 2018
- Citation
- 1807992
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 1807992.
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.
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