The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to diabetes. It also readjudicated previously denied claims for a low back disability, left ankle, right ankle, and left hip strain with rheumatoid arthritis, granting some but not all.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service at U-Tapao and Ubon Air Bases in Thailand, which led to the grant of diabetes mellitus, type II. The peripheral neuropathy was also granted as secondary to the service-connected diabetes.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type II, Left Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Low Back Disability, Left Ankle Disability, Right Ankle Disability, Left Hip Strain with Rheumatoid Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25095845
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,421 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25095845.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including diagnosed degenerative arthritis with DDD other than intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis status post L3, L4, and L5 laminectomy. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury and his ongoing symptoms since then.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
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