The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, renal failure, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, benign prostatic hypertrophy with bladder outlet obstruction, sexual dysfunction, hyperlipidemia, and hair color change, are denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The presumptive provisions for Agent Orange exposure do not apply due to the lack of service in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The veteran served on a naval vessel off the coast of Vietnam but did not have duty or visitation ashore in Vietnam. There is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and thus the presumption of exposure does not apply. The diseases claimed are not among those listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e) for presumptive service connection due to Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, renal failure, cardiovascular disease (including hypertension and coronary artery disease), benign prostatic hypertrophy with bladder outlet obstruction, sexual dysfunction, hyperlipidemia, hair color change
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 3, 2006
- Citation
- 0609606
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including medications taken therefor, were a substantial or contributing factor in his death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Dismissed
The appeal seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, degenerative arthritis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension was dismissed due to non-compliance with claims processing rules.
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