The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, and hypertension has been granted. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for COPD is denied, as the Veteran does not have prostrating headaches. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for headaches remains pending.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, and hypertension are presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's COPD meets criteria for a 30 percent evaluation but does not warrant an increased rating as he does not have prostrating headaches. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for headaches remains pending.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- February 9, 2011
- Citation
- 1105427
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1105427.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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