The Veteran's diabetes is related to exposure to herbicides during service in Korea and service connection for this condition is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran has a nerve condition, skin cancer, fibromyalgia, arthritis, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, or anxiety) that are presumptively related to his exposure to herbicides during service in Korea.
The deciding factor: The Veteran served in Korea with duties placing him at or near the DMZ where he was exposed to herbicides. The Board found that this exposure is presumed and granted service connection for diabetes due to early onset peripheral neuropathy, which is a disease listed as presumptively related to herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes, nerve condition, skin cancer, fibromyalgia, arthritis, hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19183720
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal to obtain a VA medical opinion that considers the Veteran's contentions of in-service training with heavy gear and equipment.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for scarring, right orchiopexy and remanded the claim of asbestos exposure residuals. Other claims for service connection were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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