Frequently Asked Questions

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.” You must have physically served or visited in the Republic of Vietnam, 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 the RPV and you disembarked. This does not include veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during the period of February 28, 1961 to January 9, 1962. Service members who served on the 38th parallel in Korea may also be eligible if they served from April 1, 1968 through August 31, 1971.

Normally, the claimant must show proof of relationship between service and the condition being claimed. Under presumption of service connection. VA presumes the relationship, if the condition was diagnosed within the time period specified in 38 CFR, 3.307(6)ii and the condition is recognized by 3.309(e).

To have presumptive service connection granted for diabetes mellitus based on Vietnam service, the claimant must have served in-country.

During the period 1/9/62 through 5/7/75, you must have physically served or visited in the Republic of Vietnam (RVM), 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 the RVN and you disembarked.

If private medical records are sufficient, VA can make a determination and grant based on those records.  If not, a VA examination 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 of 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.
   

As soon as the governing regulations regarding this issue are published, if you had in-country Vietnam service and have diabetes, you will need to reapply. Any veteran in this situation should contact his or her local VA office at 1-800-827-1000 or by e-mail through the VA website.

If you believe the cause of death was related to diabetes and the veteran had in-country service, you should contact the local VA office to determine your eligibility.

VA must publish regulations to implement this decision.  Benefit payments cannot begin prior to the date the VA publishes the final regulation concerning this issue. We expect the process to be completed by late Spring 2001.

No. The regulations will not have a provision for retroactive payment prior to the date the final regulation is published.

You will not receive any additional benefits as a result of this change.  However, if your diabetic condition has increased in severity since you were last rated by VA, you should contact your local VA office.  You can file a claim for reevaluation and the local VA office can provide assistance with that claim.

Yes, you can be treated at any VA Medical Center. You will, however, need to show evidence of military service, usually a DD Form 214 will service as proof of service.

We would encourage any veteran with in-country Vietnam service and diagnosed diabetes mellitus to contact his or her local VA office for information and assistance on applying for benefits.

Additional information can be found at the Veterans Health Administration web site which is at www.va.gov and the National Academy of Sciences Study on Herbicide/Dioxin Exposure and Type 2 Diabetes can be found at the NAS website.