The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II (diabetes), due to herbicide agent exposure and diabetic neuropathy, secondary to service-connected diabetes on a causation basis. The earliest possible effective date is August 10, 2022.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records confirm his duty at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand where he was exposed to herbicide agents during the Vietnam Era and had daily duties near the base perimeter which increased his likelihood of exposure. His current diagnoses of diabetes and diabetic neuropathy are also supported by medical evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, Type II (diabetes), diabetic neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2024
- Citation
- 24000739
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24000739.
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.
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- Denied
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- Granted
The Board found that the appellant is eligible to receive fees from past due benefits awarded in the portion of the June 2024 rating decision granting higher ratings for bilateral upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy. The appeal was denied regarding eligibility for fees related to a chest scar rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's increased rating for diabetes and separate ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the femoral nerves were denied in a May 2024 rating decision. The appellant is not entitled to agent fees based on past-due benefits awarded in this decision.
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