The Board has granted service connection for carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during active duty. The Veteran served in Vietnam and there is no indication of herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on a finding of equipoise between positive and negative evidence regarding the incurrence of carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease during service, with consideration given to the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicides due to his service in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19135361
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,156 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19135361.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left hand numbness, right hand numbness, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, and peripheral artery disease. The claims of service connection for epidermophytosis (claimed as trench foot), bilateral flat foot (pes planus), bilateral hammer toes, and hallux valgus (right foot) are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for aortic insufficiency, aortic stenosis and congestive heart failure, and carotid artery disease. The conditions are related to in-service exposure to toxic substances and stress.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 aggravated his peripheral artery disease, which was the direct cause of his above the right knee amputation. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist and insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cause of death. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Okinawa, Japan, and obtain a VA medical opinion on the etiology of COD.
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