The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD). The claim for service connection for a skin disorder is remanded. Service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, but the claim for PTSD remains denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was found to be related to his period of active duty service and presumptively service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for PTSD remains denied as it is not supported by a verified stressor or DSM-IV criteria diagnosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease, Acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2018
- Citation
- 18137394
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 18137394.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent prior to July 18, 2014, and a higher than 60 percent rating thereafter for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to incomplete evidence. The examiner needs to provide more detailed information about the severity of his service-connected condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for ischemic heart disease due to a failure by the AOJ to request SSA records, which were not available.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, status post stent placement, as well as obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and the Veteran's condition is not related to his military service.
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