Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and Hepatitis C virus infection.,Vision impairment due to diabetes mellitus is not service-connected.,The claim of reopening the service connection for Hepatitis C virus infection is granted.,Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder.,Issues related to a bilateral foot disorder, total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), and remanded issues are pending.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was presumed due to herbicide agent exposure in service. The claim is granted as the disease manifested during service.,Presbyopia and astigmatism were not considered diseases or injuries for VA compensation purposes, thus no service connection can be established.,New evidence supports a finding that Hepatitis C virus infection may have been caused by air gun vaccinations in service, despite uncertainty about the exact cause. The claim is reopened.,The acquired psychiatric disorder was not shown to be related to service and is not considered aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury.,Issues regarding foot disorders, TDIU, and remanded matters are pending.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, presbyopia and astigmatism due to diabetes mellitus, Hepatitis C virus infection
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 16, 2018
- Citation
- 18142119
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 18142119.
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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