The Board has restored service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and granted service connection for various peripheral neuropathies and a heart disability, all related to the Veteran's exposure to contaminated C-123 aircraft during his military service.
The deciding factor: VA found that the original grant of service connection was based on incorrect presumptive exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) due to the Veteran's duties operating or maintaining contaminated C-123 aircraft, and thus severed service connection. The Board determined this decision was erroneous and restored it.
- Claimed conditions
- Type II diabetes mellitus, right upper extremity radial nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity median nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity ulnar nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity radial nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity median nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity ulnar nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity sciatic nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity femoral nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity femoral nerve diabetic peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, kidney disability (diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease), heart disability (myocardial infarction, bradycardia, implanted pacemaker)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2026
- Citation
- A26017809
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 A26017809.
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 Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran meets the basic medical eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his need for personal care services based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. However, further clinical evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the program is in the Veteran's best interest.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected DM II. The Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during active service is presumed.
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