Veterans With Diabetes International

Diabetes Linked to Agent Orange Exposure

The VA has determined Diabetes Mellitus (Type-II) to be a presumptive condition for in-country Vietnam veterans, who, if diagnosed with the condition, will be eligible to file claims for service-connected disability compensation once rules and regulations are implemented changing existing statutes governing VA benefits.

Q. What veterans will be affected when this condition is added as a presumptive condition for those exposed to herbicides/dioxins?
A. Honorably discharged veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period January 9, 1962 through May 7, 1975 and have “adult onset diabetes mellitus.” This does not include veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam prior to January 9, 1962.

Q. What does “presumptive condition” mean?
A. Normally, the claimant must show proof of relationship between service and the condition being claimed. Under presumption of service connection, VA presumes the service-connected relationship exists based on the other qualifying criteria, such as dates and location of service and that the condition being claimed, in this case, is associated with exposure to Agent Orange.

Q. Must I have served “in-country” Vietnam to be eligible?
A. To have presumptive service connection granted for diabetes mellitus based on Vietnam service, the claimant must have served in-country.

Q. What does “in-country” mean? What if I served in support of operations in Vietnam, for example, on board a ship in the Gulf of Tonkin?
A. During the period 1/9/62 through 5/7/75, you must have physically served or visited in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN), including service in the waters offshore if the conditions of service involved duty or visitation in Vietnam. This means the ship must have come to port in RVN and you disembarked.

Q. Will private medical records be accepted as proof of my diabetes? Will I be required to undergo a VA examination?
A. If private medical records are sufficient, VA can make a determination and grant based on those records. If not, a VA exam will be required. These records should:

Comment on the age of onset and the diagnostic test used to affirmatively diagnose this condition Comment on the treatment modalities (i.e., Insulin, diet, regulation of activities, etc.)
Discuss, if applicable, the prior and current episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions. Were hospitalizations required? What was the frequency of hospitalizations?
Fully describe any complications that stem from the veteran’s diabetes mellitus, such as vision, cardiac, vascular, renal, neurologic (including both peripheral neuropathy and cerebral effects), amputations, and other associated complications.