The Board has determined that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active service is presumed, and he currently has a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as due to herbicide agent exposure is granted.
The deciding factor: The Board found reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran's assertions that he was exposed to herbicide agents near the air base perimeter during his service and concluded that this established presumptive exposure. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, which is presumed related to his in-service exposure.
- 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
- December 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20081698
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 claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cervical spine condition, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, lumbar spine condition, and urinary frequency and voiding condition as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded the claims for sinus disability, bilateral hip disability, right shoulder disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, skin disability, back disability, bilateral neurological disability of the upper extremities, and bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities.
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