Service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, increased ratings for headaches and hearing loss, and service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are dismissed.,The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. Service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are also granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Thailand.
The deciding factor: Service connection decisions were dismissed as the Veteran did not file a notice of disagreement on these issues.,The claim was reopened based on new evidence showing possible herbicide exposure. Service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Thailand.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, right shoulder degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 6, 2018
- Citation
- 18132356
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 18132356.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
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 an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's depression was rated at 50 percent prior to July 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. For TDIU, the Veteran had multiple service-connected disabilities but his education and work experience were sufficient for sedentary or light labor employment.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination.
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