The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypothyroidism, and peripheral neuropathies of bilateral lower and upper extremities, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service near the Korean DMZ, and this exposure is conceded. The August 2023 VA medical opinions support a connection between these conditions and the Veteran's herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes mellitus type II, Hypothyroidism, Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, Left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, Right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2024
- Citation
- A24064208
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The appeal was denied for service connection of a cervical spine disorder, and several claims were remanded for further development.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and a right wrist condition due to the withdrawal of the appeals by the Veteran's attorney.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, finding no evidence that the Veteran's diabetes resulted from her active military service or was caused by her service-connected hypertension.
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