The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service. Service connection is also granted for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnoses of diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer are presumed due to exposure to herbicides during service on the USS Savage in Vietnam. Bilateral peripheral neuropathy is an associated complication of diabetes mellitus, type II. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 28, 2018
- Citation
- 18153570
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 18153570.
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 claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, bone cancer, and lymph node cancer has been granted. The prostate cancer is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service at RTAFB Takhli. Bone cancer is secondary to the service-connected prostate cancer. Lymph node cancer is also considered secondary to prostate cancer.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
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