The Board denied service connection for schwannoma, claimed as a result of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type I was rated at 40 percent and the effective date for this rating is not granted.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus type I, which requires insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities, was denied. The Veteran also sought a prior effective date for his 40 percent rating.
The deciding factor: There is no published scientific literature establishing a link between solvent exposure and schwannoma, thus the Board concluded that the Veteran's schwannoma is not caused by or related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran’s diabetes mellitus type I does not meet the criteria for a 60 percent rating as required under DC 7913. The record did not show episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or visits to a diabetic care provider twice a month plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"schwannoma","type_of_connection":"presumptive"}, {"condition_name":"diabetes mellitus type I","type_of_connection":"direct"}
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19107639
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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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.
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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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