The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia, cervical strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine (low back condition), right inguinal hernia, pseudophakia, left cataract, varicocele, and carpal tunnel syndrome are all remanded for further examination and opinion.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hypertension is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The other conditions require additional medical evidence to determine their relationship to service.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis (claimed as painful joints), cervical strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine (claimed as low back condition), right inguinal hernia, pseudophakia, right eye; incipient cataract, left eye; refraction error (claimed as vision loss), varicocele (right testicle condition/testicular hydrocele, right side), carpal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19116390
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 19116390.
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 Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
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