The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 25, 2010, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and diabetic peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the declassified Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report: Base Defense in Thailand, which provided evidence of herbicide agent use at military bases in Thailand during the Vietnam War, allowing for presumptive service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes mellitus type II with mild diabetic retinopathy, Left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve), Right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve), Left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (femoral nerve), Right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (femoral nerve)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2025
- Citation
- A25036873
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 service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 100 percent rating for coronary artery disease from August 3, 2021, and an initial rating of 60 percent for diabetic nephropathy. The claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve), right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy (sciatic nerve), and femoral nerves were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for sarcoidosis as new and relevant evidence has been received since the previous denial.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
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