The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and related conditions, including diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, retinopathy, and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), based on herbicide exposure during service.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, which is presumed to have caused diabetes mellitus, and these conditions are secondary to the diabetes.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 6, 2025
- Citation
- 25007655
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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