The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type II, is granted service connection based on herbicide agent exposure during basic training. Service connection for breast cancer is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The initial rating for bilateral pes planus remains at 0 percent.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus, Type II, as the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during basic training and there is no contrary medical or scientific evidence in the file.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus Type II, breast cancer (left breast)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19157529
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 19157529.
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.
- Granted
Service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II is granted. The Board also found that service connection should be granted for hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation as secondary to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for higher ratings of tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus Type II is granted as secondary to his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus Type II and hypertension are granted as service-connected due to presumptive exposure in Thailand, a location where herbicide agents were presumed to have been present.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remands and additional development is needed, including research on potential exposure to herbicides and decontamination procedures. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II will be reconsidered.
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