The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II, finding that his MOS duties placed him on or near the perimeter of the Udorn RTAFB in Thailand during the Vietnam era. The appeal is based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran’s MOS duties as an Aircraft Mechanic and Assistant Crew Chief led him to be on or near the perimeter of the base, which was consistent with his service records and lay statements. As a result, he was presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus Type II
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20066488
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II, hypertension, bilateral femoral stents for peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and heart disability, but denied service connection for Parkinson's disease.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including abnormal PSA, cerebral vascular accident, diabetes mellitus Type II, hypertension, iron deficiency anemia, peripheral arterial disease, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and left leg sciatic radicular pain, as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 7, 2014, for coronary artery disease and January 6, 2020, for diabetes mellitus Type II. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, amphetamine use disorder in sustained remission, diabetes mellitus Type II, hyperhidrosis, migraines, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17.
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