The Board has granted service connection for chronic obstructive and restrictive lung disease, major depressive disorder and anxiety, onychomycosis (secondary to diabetes mellitus), left shoulder disability, hypertension (secondary to diabetes mellitus), heart disease (including congestive heart failure and edema of the legs) (presumptively due to Agent Orange exposure), PTSD, and granted an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus. The Board also remanded the issue of SMC based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.
The deciding factor: The Veteran served in Vietnam during a period when he was presumed exposed to herbicides like Agent Orange, which is associated with certain diseases including ischemic heart disease (including coronary artery disease and old myocardial infarction).
- Claimed conditions
- chronic obstructive and restrictive lung disease, major depressive disorder and anxiety, onychomycosis, left shoulder disability, hypertension, heart disease (including congestive heart failure and edema of the legs), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2011
- Citation
- 1141169
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 1141169.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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 Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
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