How can I make a connection between my DM2 and S/C?

Is there any evidence you had DMII in the military?

Did you serve incountry Vietnam?

Did you serve in Korea ? if so-where and when?

If DMII did not appear in your SMRs (for direct SC)the VA will only SC DMII as a presumptive condition if you were directly exposed to Agent Orange.

All incountry Vietnam Vets are presumed as exposed.

Korean Vets who served from April to August 1968 or May to July 1969 on a 151 mile swath on the southside of the civilian control line at the DMZ and whose units have been identified by DOD as being exposed to the spraying (mostly Army Units - I posted the list here before-available under a search)
are all presumed to have been exposed to AO.

VA will grant and has awarded AO comp for disabilities on the AO disability list to vets who served in Guam, Okinawa, Thailand and Alaska. These vets had to prove they were directly exposed to AO.

Your SMRs might be symptomatic for DMII.
I had diabetes vet who claimed direct SC and whose SMRs contained nothing regarding diabetes diagnosis.
W proved SC for diabetes.
I just won my claim proving my husband had DMII yet the word DMII or diabetes never once appears in any of his med recs or on his autopsy.

Diabetes has so many symptoms that can be narrowed down to being the only possible etiology for the symptoms-that even if the diagnosis was never made in service- and isnt AO presumptive-and the vet is willing to do the leg work (or better yet- get an IMO)this disease can often be service connected.

If you did serve in Korea during that time frame-what was your unit?

No to all of the above. Normal blood sugar levels during time in service.

Berta,

I just got a notice from the DAV unofficial letter that told me that service connection for diabetes mellitus was not service connected, and they are correct. What I failed to do is review closer what the DAV Service Officer put down on the paper. My fault. Like you said, "If DMII did not appear in your SMRs (for direct SC)the VA will only SC DMII as a presumptive condition if you were directly exposed to Agent Orange." I was clearly exposed to AO, but just wasted about one year because I did not pay attention. BTW, Thanks for all your advise.

Papa

Since you were in the AF you have to proof that you had "foots on the ground" or that you handled AO.

Papa

If you set foot in Vietnam you are presumbed to be exposed to AO. Were you at an Airbase in Vietnam?

John999

Yes I was. I was fairly close to Cam Rahn AB towards Na Trang at a "training facility". My feet where most diffently on the ground, at least most of the time. I'm mostly upset with myself for not paying attention to what the DAV person put down.

Papa

Put in for reconsideration based on the additional evidence that you were in Nam.

Sharon,

Thanks, and I will be more careful when I do.

Papa

dclayton57, look at your DD214 and see if you have the vsm medal. They have to accept that as proof of service in country. Also if you take insulin make sure they know as that is a higher rating.Good luck with your claim.

dclayton

I am sorry that I missed earlier posts on Jul 24th and have just approved them. All new Members are on Moderator Preview because of problems we have had in past. One we see that a new Member is legit Tbird lifts the review or promotes to status where their posts show on Board immediately.

In the even that you are not boots on ground or served in a place that VA accepts for AO exposure all is not lost.

Read carefully your military records for clues of diabetes. Blood tests and even events that might demonstrate, Did you have to take glucose tolerance test in Military that would be an indicator.

If you can get an IMO from a Doctor that gives you the diagnosis and links it to starting while you served. If you have only been out less than a year.

I served 2 years and was on standby reserve for 2 years and actually was called up for 2 weeks after I separated. I have always wondered if the 2 weeks I served with Texas National Guard would have changed anything?

I also think that despite what DOD and VA claim a lot of Veterans besides boots on ground were exposed to Agent Orange. I think that the Army used it all over the post where I served in Germany and stored it in the motor pool.

I sure agree with Sharon- file the Reconsideration Request and tell them details as to when and where you were at this base incountry Vietnam-

Would you have any destination/arrival data in your SRB or military personnel file?
or any way to get a buddy statement if needed?

Even the flight logs might be somehow available for this plane.

I menioned a case he other day here where the VA said the USAF vet was never boots on the ground.

The way he proved he was- is that he got the flight mauals of C 1 A that he landed in Vietnam in- and proved that the distance to his actual destination would have prohibited flight without a re-fuel stop over and Vietnam was only place the plane could possibly have refueled.

There are ways to prove this. What kind of aircraft was this and when were you near Cam Rahn Bay?

The VA stopped considering the VSM as proof of Boots on the ground many years ago-they actually started to question many standing comp awards and tried to reduce the veteran's AO comp in some cases.

HR 2254 (please ask your Congressmen/women and Senators to support this bill) will rectify this in the Agent Orange Veterans Equity Act if it passes.

Berta,

So we have to prove to the government that sent us there that we where there.

Papa