The Veteran's claim for service connection for Type 2 diabetes mellitus, including as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded for additional development. The Board notes that the USS Oriskany, USS Midway, USS King, and USS Coral Sea were not in Vietnamese waters during the time periods when the Veteran’s squadron detachment was aboard these ships.
The deciding factor: The Board found that additional information is needed to determine whether the Veteran's service with his squadron detachment on the identified carriers was within 12 nautical miles of the coast of Vietnam, which would entitle him to the presumption of herbicide agent exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20028622
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 20028622.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC was denied as the Board found that he is already in receipt of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure. A second award of SMC at the (l) rate based on need for regular aid and attendance was not warranted.
- Granted
The Board vacates the September 2022 decision denying service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to the passage of the PACT Act, which expanded presumptive exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's service was not found to be in offshore Vietnam or any other location where herbicide exposure is presumed. As a result, his claim for service connection cannot be substantiated.
- Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by a disability incurred in or aggravated during his military service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of death.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches was denied as there were no prostrating attacks. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to the Veteran's ability to maintain a substantially gainful occupation despite his service-connected disabilities.
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