The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the claim for DIC benefits is denied. The cause of death listed as encephalopathy secondary to hypoglycemia due to diabetes mellitus type II is presumed service-connected based on herbicide exposure during service aboard USS Buck (DD-761). However, the remand is required to determine if the Veteran was exposed in the offshore waters of Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's death was not service-connected and there was no pending claim for service connection at the time of his death. The cause of death listed as encephalopathy secondary to hypoglycemia due to diabetes mellitus type II is presumed service-connected based on herbicide exposure during service aboard USS Buck (DD-761). However, the remand is required to determine if the Veteran was exposed in the offshore waters of Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- Encephalopathy, Hypoglycemia, Insulin dependent diabetes
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2022
- Citation
- 22069635
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 22069635.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 USC 1318 due to a need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's causes of death, considering toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's IBS was granted, while other claims for service connection were denied or remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an additional VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.
- Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to diabetes mellitus type II, which resulted in hypoglycemia. The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service or at any other time, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death on this basis. Additionally, DIC benefits were not granted as the Veteran was not rated as totally disabled due to a service-connected disability prior to his death.
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