The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumptively service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The cervical spine disorder is also presumed service-connected based on a history of treatment and degenerative changes found by imaging studies prior to any reported in-service injury. Both conditions are granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has been exposed to Agent Orange during his service at Takhli Air Force Base, Thailand, which allows for presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease. The cervical spine disorder is presumed based on the presence of degenerative changes prior to any reported in-service injury and consistent with a history of treatment.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic Heart Disease, Cervical Spine Disorder
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2017
- Citation
- 1741376
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 1741376.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease was granted a 30% disability rating effective August 31, 2010. The condition manifested as cardiac hypertrophy and a workload of greater than 5.0 but less than 7.0 METs without congestive heart failure or LVEF of 50 percent or less.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, ischemic heart disease, diabetic neuropathy, prostate cancer residuals, bilateral diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities (sciatic), and diabetes mellitus Type 2, combine to result in physical or mental impairment that renders him so helpless as to require regular aid and attendance of another person. However, the need for aid and attendance must be determined without considering nonservice-connected disabilities.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection effective from the date of his claim.,Service connection for bilateral tinnitus is denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of April 12, 2022, but no earlier, for service connection of Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Diabetes Mellitus, Type II, Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease (RLPAD), Left Foot Little and Third Toe Amputation, Left Foot Great Toe Amputation, and Left Lower Extremity Residual Surgical Scars.
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