The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hair loss, swallowing difficulties, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to new evidence. The claims are being remanded for further development regarding exposure to toxic herbicides while in service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's testimony suggests he was exposed to toxic herbicide agents during his time at Eglin Air Force Base, but the VA has not verified this claim and no records have been provided to a repository for verification. The claims are being remanded for further development including an examination to evaluate the etiology of each condition.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, hair loss, swallowing difficulties, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 17, 2022
- Citation
- 22058154
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 22058154.
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and left arm tremors. Service connection for right hand tremors is also granted. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus.
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