The Board denied service connection for pancreatic disability and diabetes mellitus type 2, finding that the Veteran's disabilities are not etiologically related to his military service or herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided medical opinions indicating that the Veteran’s pancreatitis is more likely due to alcohol abuse rather than service-connected PTSD or herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- pancreatic disability (claimed as hemorrhagic pancreatitis, status post-total pancreatectomy), diabetes mellitus type 2
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 1, 2018
- Citation
- 18139568
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18139568.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for heart attack, kidney stones, polycythemia vera, diabetes mellitus type 2, and psoriasis is remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective October 24, 2017. The attorney fees are eligible based on the past-due benefits awarded in the May 2021 rating decision.
- Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is found to be secondary to her service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate, and thus remands are required to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus type 2 are caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.
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.