The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and secondary service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. The Board found sufficient evidence to support herbicide exposure during service, leading to presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. Secondary service connection was also granted based on a diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records and personal statements supported his claim of herbicide exposure during service at Takhli AFB in Thailand, which is associated with the development of diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found sufficient evidence for both primary and secondary service connection based on these findings.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19105123
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cervical spine condition, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, lumbar spine condition, and urinary frequency and voiding condition as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded the claims for sinus disability, bilateral hip disability, right shoulder disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, skin disability, back disability, bilateral neurological disability of the upper extremities, and bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities.
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