The Board granted service connection for gangrenous gallbladder and hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus type I as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis. The Board denied a compensable rating for hypertension and noncompensable ratings for melanoma and squamous cell cancer removal scars (trunk) and facial scars.
The deciding factor: The private physician's opinion, despite low probative weight, supported the connection between Agent Orange exposure and the Veteran's gangrenous gallbladder and hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis. The evidence was in approximate balance for diabetes mellitus type I being secondary to the service-connected hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis.
- Claimed conditions
- gangrenous gallbladder, hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis (also claimed as lost pancreas), diabetes mellitus type I (diabetes)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2025
- Citation
- A25102385
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