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
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,828 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related exposure.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The decision finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted on a secondary basis with obesity serving as an intermediate step due to service-connected low back disability, sciatica, and right shoulder disabilities.
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