VA Disability for Diabetes: How to Qualify, Get Rated, and Get the Benefits You’ve Earned
Compared to the general population, Veterans are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with diabetes. The disease is closely tied to factors such as age, lifestyle, and service-related exposure, such as Agent Orange.
Many Veterans are entitled to disability compensation for service-related diabetes diagnoses. Lack of effective treatment can lead to serious complications, and even if properly treated, veterans may still experience a change in their quality of life.
At Capovilla & Williams, we help veterans nationwide cut through the red tape and get the benefits they earned. You served your country. Now it’s our job to serve you. Call 866-951-0466 or send us a message via our consultation form.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes refers to diseases that affect how the body uses glucose, or blood sugar. Glucose plays a key role in the body and is a key source of energy, including being the primary source of energy for the brain.
The cause of diabetes varies depending on the type. While individuals may have a genetic predisposition to the disease, something in their environment, such as exposure to Agent Orange, triggers the disease to become active.
With type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t produce insulin. While it is generally diagnosed in childhood, a type 1 diagnosis as an adult is possible. Scientists don’t know what triggers type 1 diabetes or how to prevent it.
Type 2 diabetes, which is more common, occurs when a body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t make enough. In general, type 2 diabetes is diagnosed in adults, although that’s not always the case.
For individuals with diabetes, it’s important to know which type they have. The treatment plan for the two types of diabetes can vary. Someone with type 1 diabetes may not respond to treatment for type 2 diabetes and vice versa.
Causes of Diabetes: Not Just Genetics
Genetics alone don’t cause diabetes. Scientists haven’t yet determined the exact triggers for diabetes, but what is known is that environmental factors or other events always play a role in the disease. This is one reason why diabetes diagnoses can relate to military service.
As the American Diabetes Association highlights, identical twins share DNA but may not both have diabetes. When one identical twin has type 1 diabetes, the other twin only gets diabetes half the time. If one twin has type 2 diabetes, the other twin has, at most, a 75 percent chance of having diabetes. If diabetes were solely genetic, both twins would or would not have diabetes.
Diabetes Complications
If left untreated, uncontrolled diabetes can result in other health concerns. When diabetes isn’t controlled, the disease can negatively affect almost every system in the body.
Individuals with untreated diabetes are at a higher risk of:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney damage or disease
- Nerve damage
- Vision problems
- Digestion problems
- Erectile dysfunction
- Skin problems
- Infection
- Dental problems
For example, over time, high blood sugar can cause issues with the heart and arteries. This can, in turn, lead to cardiac issues and reduced blood flow. Poor blood flow can reduce healing time, even for minor cuts, and result in cuts and other injuries becoming infected.
In addition, reduced blood flow means that hands and feet get less blood. This is one reason why untreated diabetes accounts for 80 percent of lower-limb amputations.
Why Veterans Are More Likely to Have Diabetes
A variety of factors, many related to military service, mean that Veterans are at a higher risk of receiving a diabetes diagnosis. These risk factors include:
- Age: As Veterans age, their risk increases.
- Obesity rates: Being overweight or obese increases the risk of diabetes. Inactivity due to injuries or health conditions sustained during service or other post-service lifestyle changes can all contribute to weight gain.
- Mental health: PTSD, depression, and anxiety all increase the likelihood of issues that can heighten the diabetes risk. For example, increased stress can affect blood sugar.
- Medication side effects: Some drugs, including those used to treat PTSD or depression, may raise blood sugar.
- Service-related risk factors: An ever-evolving list, certain exposures during military service may increase the risk of diabetes, such as Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War.
- Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts who were stationed near open burn pits have an increased risk of developing a range of diseases. The research related to burn pits and later health risks is in the early stages, but it highlights how understanding health risks related to military service isn’t static.
Military service may result in a variety of later health issues. Evolving research and a better understanding of what causes a health condition may result in changes to how the VA classifies and supports Veterans with certain health conditions.
Vietnam Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange are one example of why understanding exposure during service is so important for Veterans.
Diabetes and Presumptive Conditions
In some cases, the VA assumes that military service caused certain diseases and disabilities. The VA refers to these as presumptive conditions, and Veterans don’t have to prove their service caused the condition.
If a Veteran has a condition that falls under the VA’s definition of a presumptive condition, they will be awarded disability compensation. This compensation is tax-free.
In some cases, diabetes falls under the category of a presumptive condition.
Agent Orange and Diabetes
The VA recognizes that Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War have an increased risk of several health conditions, including diabetes. The VA maintains a list of cancers and other illnesses that are considered presumptive conditions following Agent Orange exposure.
This list includes type 2 diabetes. Veterans, however, may file a claim if they have type 1 diabetes that they believe is the result of Agent Orange exposure. While Veterans with type 1 diabetes will have to submit more evidence, they still have the right to file a claim for disability compensation.
Veterans with type 2 diabetes fall under the presumptive condition for Agent Orange exposure when they served in one of several listed locations between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. These locations include Vietnam or any vessel that was stationed within 12 miles of Vietnam’s or Cambodia’s coasts.
Veterans with type 2 diabetes will need to submit:
- A medical record showing a diagnosis of a health condition related to Agent Orange
- Military records that establish when and how you were exposed to Agent Orange
Veterans with type 1 diabetes will need to submit the above plus:
- Evidence that the problem either started during or got worse during your military service
or
- Scientific or medical evidence, such as an article from a medical journal or other research, that indicates your condition relates to Agent Orange exposure.
Other Diabetes Claims
Veterans who were not exposed to Agent Orange may still qualify for disability compensation for a type 2 diagnosis. Veterans who receive a disability rating of at least 10 percent within 1 year of separation from service may qualify for support.
As of 2026, while exposure to burn pits and other environmental toxins can be a presumptive condition for certain cancers and illnesses, the VA has not yet classified diabetes as a presumptive condition related to burn pit exposure. Research, however, indicates that there is a connection between type 2 diabetes and environmental toxin exposure.
The VA allows Veterans to file for disability compensation even if their condition or service isn’t listed as a presumptive condition. While Veterans will have to file additional evidence to establish the connection, they may still qualify for disability payments.
How does the VA Rate Diabetes?
The VA assigns a disability rating for diabetes between 10 and 100 percent based on the severity of a Veteran’s symptoms and the level of medical management they require. These values can change annually.
| 10% | Manageable by restricted diet only |
| 20% | At least one daily injection of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agent, and restricted diet |
| 40% | At least one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities |
| 60% | At least one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities Episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions that require one or two hospitalizations annually or twice monthly visits to a diabetic care provider Complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated |
| 100% | At least one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and avoiding strenuous occupational and recreational activities Episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions that result in three or more hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider Either progressive loss of weight and strength or complications that would be compensable if separately evaluated |
Filing a Claim
Filing a claim can seem overwhelming. The good news is that VA disability cases are handled at no out-of-pocket costs to clients.
The best way to file and what to file depends on a Veteran’s specific circumstances. The VA has multiple types of disability claims. Some Veterans should start by submitting an intent to file form first, which establishes an earlier effective date. This allows Veterans to gather evidence and may also result in retroactive payments.
How Capovilla & Williams Can Help
As a Veteran, you have the right to a range of post-service support, including disability compensation. For those suffering from diabetes related to service, you may have the right to receive compensation.
Filing claims can be confusing. Knowing what documents to submit, when a claim relates to a presumptive condition, and when to file a claim can make the process seem overwhelming.
At Capovilla & Williams, our attorneys focus on each Veteran and their specific situation and condition. We build-evidence based cases to help tell your story and why you have the right to compensation.
We’ve helped countless veterans across the country secure the benefits they earned through service and sacrifice, and we’ll fight to do the same for you. Call 866-951-0466 or fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation today.
