Veterans’ RightsAn independent resource for veterans
← All decisions
Granted

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased evaluations, with all conditions being related to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim was reopened due to new evidence received within the appeal period, leading to a successful reopening of his previously denied claim. The Board then granted service connection based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents during service.

Claimed conditions
diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic retinopathy, osteomyelitis of the right distal second toe, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right arm, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left arm, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right leg, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left leg
How they argued it
Not specified
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
October 7, 2019
Citation
19177158

Veterans Law Judge

Michael J. Skaltsounis

Decisions by this judge: 2,316 · Granted: 43% (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 19177158.

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.

Free starter guide for your own claim

Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.

We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.

We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.

This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.