The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of left eye cataract. Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus type II and secondary service connection for neuropathy of the lower extremities due to diabetes mellitus type II is also granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base during his active duty service provided sufficient evidence to grant presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents and thus entitled to the presumption of service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e). Service connection is also granted for neuropathy of the lower extremities as it is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye cataract, diabetes mellitus type II, neuropathy of the lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19171414
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 19171414.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic nephropathy, and prostate cancer. The issues of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on housebound status and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) are remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, which is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and panic disorder with insomnia. The decision finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the erectile dysfunction was caused by these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted a 20% rating for diabetes mellitus type II from June 20, 2020. The right ankle scar claim is remanded due to the Veteran's failure to report for a scheduled examination. The GERD secondary to diabetes mellitus claim and TDIU issue are also remanded.
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