The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to type 2 diabetes mellitus, a presumptive disability based on herbicide exposure, and also granted service-connected burial benefits.
The deciding factor: The evidence was in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus contributed to his death from pancreatic cancer, and the Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule.
- Claimed conditions
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 2, 2025
- Citation
- 25008732
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.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, carotid disease, chronic kidney disease, COPD, and type 2 diabetes mellitus are dismissed as moot.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for Type 2 diabetes mellitus based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Vietnam.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disabilities, tinnitus, and hypertension. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was denied, as were claims for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and gout. Rheumatoid arthritis and a back disability are also being remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for service connection of Type 2 diabetes mellitus as secondary to a psychiatric disorder is remanded. The Board needs more information on whether the veteran's obesity, caused by his psychiatric condition, led to diabetes.
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