The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension to include as secondary to a service-connected disability due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is presumed to have participated in a TERA, particularly by virtue of his deployment to Southwest Asia where he was exposed to toxic substances. A VA examination and medical opinion are needed regarding the onset and relationship of type II diabetes mellitus to service and whether it is related to or aggravated by TERA exposure. For hypertension, a VA medical opinion is also required considering total potential exposure through all applicable military deployments and synergistic effects of TERA.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors that occurred prior to the June 2021 rating decision on appeal, specifically regarding participation in toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) and type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension related to service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2024
- Citation
- A24047934
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 A24047934.
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
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- Denied
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