The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), sleep apnea, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, neck disability, low back disability, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, iritis, allergies, nephrolithiasis, erectile dysfunction, and lip rash are all granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was likely exposed to herbicides while serving in the Korean DMZ, which is known to have been treated with herbicides between April 1968 and August 1971. His diabetes and ischemic heart disease are presumed to be related to such exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- ischemic heart disease, diabetes, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), sleep apnea, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, neck disability, low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, iritis, allergies, nephrolithiasis (bladder stones and blood in urine), erectile dysfunction, lip rash
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2015
- Citation
- 1547839
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 1547839.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis disability rating is being remanded for additional development due to significant weight loss and anemia.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and increased ratings for her bilateral knee disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.
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