Type 2 diabetes is one of the most prevalent service-connected disabilities among veterans. Thousands of veterans receive VA disability compensation for service-connected diabetes. Veterans develop diabetes through various pathways including occupational exposure during military service, weight gain following military discharge, and presumptive conditions related to military service. However, many veterans don’t realize they can file for VA disability benefits for diabetes or don’t understand which veterans qualify for presumptive diabetes service connection. This article explains how veterans develop service-connected diabetes, how veterans can file for disability benefits, what disability ratings veterans with diabetes receive, and how veterans can manage their diabetes while maximizing disability compensation.

How Veterans Develop Service-Connected Diabetes

Veterans develop diabetes through multiple pathways connected to military service:

Presumptive Service Connection: Many veterans qualify for presumptive service connection for diabetes. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War have presumptive Type 2 diabetes service connection. This means veterans don’t need to prove their diabetes was caused by Agent Orange exposure—the VA presumes the connection based on service location and diagnosis. Additionally, some veterans who served in other locations with specific exposures qualify for presumptive diabetes benefits.

Direct Service Connection: Some veterans develop diabetes directly from military service factors. For example, veterans who served in cold climates, experienced extreme stress during combat service, or suffered injuries affecting pancreatic function may develop diabetes. Veterans can establish direct service connection by showing the diabetes resulted from service-related factors.

Secondary Service Connection: Veterans often develop diabetes secondary to other service-connected conditions. For example, a veteran with service-connected PTSD may develop diabetes related to stress and lifestyle changes caused by the veteran’s PTSD. A veteran with service-connected obesity may develop diabetes as a secondary condition. These secondary diabetes conditions in veterans qualify for disability benefits.

Occupational Exposure: Veterans exposed to burn pits, chemicals, pesticides, or other hazardous materials during military service may have increased diabetes risk. Some veterans who served in contaminated areas developed diabetes from occupational exposure during the veteran’s service.

Agent Orange and Presumptive Diabetes in Veterans

The VA recognizes that veterans exposed to Agent Orange during Vietnam War service have a presumptive condition for Type 2 diabetes. Veterans who served in Vietnam between 1962-1975 have presumptive diabetes service connection if veterans now have a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

To qualify for presumptive diabetes as a veteran, you must:

• Have served in Vietnam during the specified period (generally 1962-1975), or served on military vessels in Vietnamese waters, or served in specific other locations where Agent Orange may have been used
• Have a current diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes

Veterans don’t need to prove exposure to Agent Orange or show that Agent Orange caused the veteran’s diabetes. The VA presumes the connection based on veterans’ service location and diabetes diagnosis.

If you’re a Vietnam veteran with Type 2 diabetes, you almost certainly qualify for disability benefits through the presumptive conditions program. File a claim with the VA indicating presumptive service connection for Agent Orange-related diabetes.

Types of Diabetes in Veterans

Veterans experience various forms of diabetes:

Type 2 Diabetes: This is the most common form of diabetes in veterans and the type covered by Agent Orange presumptive service connection. Veterans with Type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance, meaning their bodies don’t use insulin effectively. Type 2 diabetes in veterans develops gradually and is often related to weight, age, and lifestyle factors.

Type 1 Diabetes: While less common than Type 2, some veterans have Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition where the veteran’s pancreas doesn’t produce insulin. Veterans can establish service connection for Type 1 diabetes if the veteran developed it during or shortly after service.

Secondary Complications: Veterans with diabetes often develop secondary conditions including diabetic retinopathy (eye disease affecting veterans), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage in veterans), diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease affecting veterans), and cardiovascular disease in veterans. These secondary conditions in veterans can be rated separately.

Service Connection for Veterans with Diabetes

Veterans can establish service connection for diabetes through several pathways:

Presumptive Service Connection: Veterans exposed to Agent Orange or qualifying under other presumptive programs file claims indicating presumptive service connection. Veterans provide evidence of service location and diabetes diagnosis—no causation proof needed for presumptive conditions.

Direct Service Connection: Veterans not qualifying for presumptive benefits can file for direct service connection by submitting medical evidence linking the veteran’s diabetes to military service factors. Veterans must show when the veteran developed diabetes, that it occurred during or shortly after service, and that military service factors contributed to the veteran’s diabetes development.

Secondary Service Connection: Veterans file for secondary diabetes service connection by showing how another service-connected condition caused or aggravated the veteran’s diabetes. A veteran with service-connected obesity, PTSD, or other conditions may develop diabetes secondary to these conditions.

Disability Ratings for Veterans with Diabetes

The VA rates diabetes in veterans based on the severity of the veteran’s condition and functional impact. Diabetes ratings in veterans range from 0% to 20%, though some veterans with severe complications may receive higher ratings for secondary conditions.

0% Rating for Veterans: Veterans at this level have diagnosed diabetes controlled with diet alone or minimal medication. The veteran’s diabetes causes minimal functional impairment though the veteran still has the diagnosed condition.

10% Rating for Veterans: Veterans receiving 10% for diabetes have the condition controlled with oral medication or insulin. The veteran’s diabetes is managed but the veteran has some symptoms or medication side effects affecting the veteran’s functioning.

20% Rating for Veterans: Veterans with a 20% rating for diabetes have the condition causing more significant symptoms despite treatment. The veteran may experience blood sugar fluctuations, medication side effects, or complications affecting the veteran’s daily functioning. Veterans at this level have diabetes substantially impacting the veteran’s quality of life and occupational capacity.

Higher ratings may apply for veterans with severe diabetic complications like kidney disease, vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, or severe neuropathy, though these are typically rated as separate conditions in veterans rather than as diabetes itself.

Filing for Diabetes Disability Benefits as a Veteran

To file for VA disability benefits for diabetes, veterans submit VA Form 21-0960 (Application for Disability Compensation) indicating diabetes as the claimed condition.

Veterans filing for diabetes should include:

• Medical records documenting the veteran’s Type 2 diabetes diagnosis
• Lab results showing the veteran’s blood glucose levels and diabetes control
• Records of diabetes treatment received by the veteran including medications
• Information about when the veteran developed diabetes
• A personal statement from the veteran explaining how the veteran’s diabetes affects the veteran’s daily functioning
• If filing for presumptive diabetes, evidence of service location qualifying the veteran for presumptive benefits
• If filing for secondary diabetes, medical evidence showing how another service-connected condition causes or aggravates the veteran’s diabetes

Veterans should clearly state whether the veteran is filing for presumptive service connection or direct service connection to guide VA processing of the veteran’s claim.

The Compensation and Pension Exam for Veterans with Diabetes

When veterans file for diabetes disability, the VA typically schedules a Compensation and Pension exam. During the veteran’s exam, the VA examiner will:

• Review the veteran’s medical records and diabetes diagnosis
• Perform blood glucose testing or request recent lab results from the veteran
• Ask the veteran about the veteran’s diabetes symptoms and how the veteran’s condition affects the veteran’s daily life
• Inquire about the veteran’s diabetes management and medications taken by the veteran
• Document any complications from the veteran’s diabetes affecting the veteran

Veterans should prepare for the veteran’s exam by bringing recent lab results, a list of diabetes medications, and documentation of the veteran’s diabetes management. Veterans should be prepared to discuss how the veteran’s diabetes affects the veteran’s work performance and daily functioning.

Secondary Conditions in Veterans with Diabetes

Veterans should file claims for conditions secondary to their diabetes. Many veterans develop secondary conditions as complications of diabetes:

Diabetic Retinopathy: Veterans with diabetes may develop eye disease (diabetic retinopathy) causing vision loss in veterans. This secondary condition in veterans can receive a separate disability rating based on vision impairment.

Diabetic Neuropathy: Nerve damage from diabetes affects many veterans, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in veterans’ extremities. Veterans with diabetic neuropathy can file for this secondary condition.

Diabetic Nephropathy: Kidney damage from diabetes develops in some veterans, potentially requiring dialysis or kidney transplant in affected veterans. Veterans with kidney disease secondary to diabetes can file for this disability.

Cardiovascular Disease: Veterans with diabetes have increased risk of heart disease. If a veteran develops heart disease and the veteran can establish that the veteran’s diabetes contributed, this secondary cardiovascular condition in veterans qualifies for separate rating.

Depression and Anxiety: Many veterans develop mental health conditions secondary to diabetes, related to the burden of managing a chronic disease. Veterans can file for these secondary mental health conditions.

These secondary conditions in veterans increase the veteran’s combined disability rating, potentially significantly increasing the veteran’s monthly compensation.

Managing Diabetes While Receiving VA Benefits

Veterans receiving VA disability benefits for diabetes should:

Establish regular care with VA endocrinologists or primary care providers specializing in diabetes management for veterans. Keep all VA medical appointments to maintain updated documentation supporting the veteran’s disability claim. Monitor the veteran’s blood glucose levels and maintain records showing the veteran’s diabetes control. Take medications as prescribed by the veteran’s healthcare providers to manage the veteran’s diabetes effectively. Report significant changes in the veteran’s diabetes or development of complications to the veteran’s VA provider.

Regular VA care accomplishes two purposes: it ensures the veteran receives appropriate medical treatment, and it creates medical documentation supporting the veteran’s disability claim and any future rating increase requests the veteran might file.

Rating Increases for Veterans with Worsening Diabetes

Veterans whose diabetes worsens or who develop complications should file for rating increases. Diabetes is often progressive, and many veterans experience worsening control or development of complications over time.

Veterans should file for rating increases when:

• The veteran’s diabetes becomes more difficult to control despite medication adjustments
• The veteran develops diabetic complications like neuropathy or kidney disease
• The veteran’s diabetes causes increased symptoms affecting the veteran’s functioning
• The veteran requires insulin therapy when previously controlled with oral medication

Filing for a rating increase involves submitting updated medical evidence showing the veteran’s worsened condition and requesting increased disability compensation based on the veteran’s current functional status.

Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to see how a diabetes rating increase would affect your combined rating and total monthly compensation as a veteran.

Combining Diabetes with Other Veteran Disabilities

Many veterans have diabetes combined with other service-connected conditions. For example, a veteran might have a 20% rating for diabetes and a 40% rating for back pain. All service-connected conditions in veterans combine to determine the veteran’s total disability rating.

Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to understand exactly how your diabetes rating combines with your other service-connected disabilities as a veteran. The calculator shows veterans their total combined rating and monthly compensation based on individual disability ratings.

Special Considerations for Veterans with Diabetes

Veterans with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes requiring insulin therapy typically receive higher disability ratings than veterans whose diabetes is controlled with diet or oral medication alone. Veterans should ensure their VA providers document the veteran’s insulin requirement, as this supports higher disability ratings for the veteran.

Veterans receiving multiple insulin injections daily or using insulin pumps have documented functional impact from the veteran’s diabetes, supporting higher ratings for veterans. Veterans should maintain records of the veteran’s diabetes management demonstrating the veteran’s condition severity.

Veterans with Diabetes and Special Monthly Compensation

Some veterans with severe diabetic complications may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) in addition to their standard disability rating. For example, a veteran who is blind from diabetic retinopathy, or a veteran with severe diabetic nephropathy requiring dialysis, may qualify for additional SMC payments.

Veterans with severe diabetes complications should discuss SMC eligibility with a VA representative. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to model your total compensation including potential SMC benefits as a veteran with serious diabetes complications.

Appealing Denied Diabetes Claims for Veterans

If the VA denies a veteran’s diabetes claim, the veteran can appeal. Many veterans successfully overturn denials by:

• Submitting additional medical evidence documenting the veteran’s diabetes
• Providing lab results showing the veteran’s diabetes diagnosis
• Working with a VA-accredited representative who understands presumptive diabetes benefits
• Filing an appeal under updated presumptive conditions if new conditions have been added since the veteran’s denial

If you’re a veteran with diabetes whose claim was denied, don’t accept the denial without appeal. Many veterans successfully obtain diabetes disability benefits through persistent appeals and proper evidence presentation.

Conclusion

Type 2 diabetes is a service-connected disability affecting many veterans. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange almost certainly qualify for presumptive diabetes service connection. Even veterans not qualifying for presumptive benefits can establish service connection for diabetes through direct evidence or secondary service connection claims. If you’re a veteran with diabetes, file a disability claim whether you qualify for presumptive benefits or need to establish direct service connection. Gather medical evidence documenting your diabetes and how it affects your functioning. File claims for any diabetic complications developing as secondary conditions. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to understand your combined rating and monthly compensation when diabetes combines with other veteran disabilities. As a veteran with diabetes, you deserve disability compensation recognizing your service-connected condition and the impact on your veteran life.