The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in service, which triggers a presumption of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, and Parkinson's disease. As the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions, all manifest to a compensable degree, service connection is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran served near the DMZ during his time in Korea and provided credible statements regarding multiple trips to areas near the DMZ where Agent Orange exposure was likely. The Board finds that he was exposed to herbicide agents, triggering the presumption of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, and Parkinson's disease.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 8, 2018
- Citation
- 1808036
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 1808036.
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 service connection for a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Granted
The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as presumptively related to his service in the Gulf War, specifically aboard the USS Chanticleer and USS Mataco.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
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