The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, colon cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder) have been granted. The diagnoses are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during military service.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supports the diagnosis of PTSD as a result of in-service stressors involving the recovery of dead bodies in Korea, which is considered presumptive due to herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- type II diabetes mellitus, colon cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20074134
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for depression, PTSD, and an anxiety disorder due to the lack of a current diagnosis.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for anxiety disorder and denied service connection for hearing loss. The claims for service connection for GERD, right ankle limitations, and sinusitis were remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus to address a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding VA not requesting private treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of colon cancer, claimed as due to exposure to asbestos, for an addendum opinion considering additional evidence.
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