The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease was reopened due to new evidence. The Board found that the Veteran had in-service herbicide exposure near the base perimeter at U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, which is one of the facilities where herbicides were sprayed. Therefore, the Veteran's current diagnosis of coronary artery disease (which is considered ischemic heart disease for VA purposes) was granted as service connected.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran had in-service herbicide exposure near the base perimeter at U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, which is one of the facilities where herbicides were sprayed. The Veteran's current diagnosis of coronary artery disease (which is considered ischemic heart disease for VA purposes) was granted as service connected.
- Claimed conditions
- ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19148656
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.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board grants service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his period of active duty service. The claims for ischemic heart disease, aortic valve replacement, status post aortic stenosis, and peripheral vascular disease with popliteal aneurysm are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, as the previous opinions were found inadequate.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, left eye diabetic retinopathy, left foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease, as well as the Veteran's cause of death.
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