The Veteran's diabetes and CLL are presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicides. Service connection for these conditions is granted. The Veteran's OSA, claimed as due to exposure to herbicides, is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran served at Udorn RTAFB where he was exposed to herbicide agents coincident with service and the Board found his duties brought him in close proximity to the base perimeter on a regular basis, thereby exposing him to herbicides. His diabetes and CLL are presumed related to such exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2021
- Citation
- 21000612
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 21000612.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The decision finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted on a secondary basis with obesity serving as an intermediate step due to service-connected low back disability, sciatica, and right shoulder disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a medical examination regarding the severity of his residuals from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including chronic fatigue. The initial compensable rating for CLL remains denied.
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