The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 is being remanded due to a predecisional duty to assist error and the need to verify his in-service herbicide exposure. If verified, he will be scheduled for a TERA examination to determine if there is a nexus between his diabetes and his in-service herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim was denied based on insufficient evidence regarding his in-service herbicide exposure, which constitutes a predecisional duty to assist error.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type 2
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 21, 2023
- Citation
- A23037041
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 A23037041.
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.
- Denied
The Board has vacated the January 2026 decision granting service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 due to fraudulent evidence. The Veteran's claim is denied as there is no credible evidence linking his diabetes to service or a service-connected condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos and Agent Orange during service. The claims are now pending for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bradyarrhythmia status post dual-chamber pacemaker placement, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus, type 2 due to a failure to verify the Veteran's reported herbicide agent exposure during service. The AOJ is instructed to take all appropriate steps to verify this exposure and issue a TERA memorandum regarding toxic exposures.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II due to potential exposure to Agent Orange during military service. The RO should obtain a TERA opinion considering all applicable exposures, including asbestos and ignited substances.
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