The Board granted service connection for skin cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis based on presumptive exposure to herbicides. Peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities was also granted due to their relationship with the Veteran's service-connected diabetes.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence supported a connection between the Veteran's current disabilities and his presumed in-service exposure to herbicides, as well as the synergistic effects of such exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- skin cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25051097
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.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine pain, allergic rhinitis, and recurrent yeast infections. The claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder with alcohol use disorder and left knee pain were remanded.
- 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.
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