The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to have been incurred during service due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and denial for diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities are granted. The Veteran's sleep disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression) claims are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service at Udorn RTAFB, which is presumed to have caused his diabetes mellitus, type II. His diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also presumed due to his diabetes. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis for diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities or sleep disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"diabetes mellitus, type II","upper_extremities":false,"lower_extremities":true}, {"condition_name":"diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity"}, {"condition_name":"diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity"}
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19101425
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.
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The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 10, 2022, for the grant of service connection for sinusitis based on the PACT Act.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the conditions are related to in-service herbicide agent exposure.
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