The Board found no credible evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service in Vietnam or exposure to herbicides, thus denying service connection for heart disease and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy based on presumptive exposure. The claim was denied as direct service connection could not be established.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not provide credible evidence of service within the Republic of Vietnam or exposure to herbicide agents during his military service, which precludes him from establishing service connection for heart disease and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy based on presumptive exposure under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e).
- Claimed conditions
- Heart Disease, Bilateral Lower Extremity Neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2013
- Citation
- 1333868
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1333868.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants were denied as they did not meet the criteria for assistance in acquiring such benefits due to lack of qualifying service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal of the increased rating for service-connected headaches, effective May 22, 2020, is dismissed.,The appeal of entitlement to an earlier effective date for TDIU is dismissed.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, dermatitis as of December 4, 2024 was granted a 10 percent evaluation, and kidney stones were denied. Service connection for allergic rhinitis and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy were also denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands all service connection claims for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's allergic rhinitis, skin condition, and ED.
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