The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, as well as his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance/housebound status, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during service, and thus could not establish a presumption of service connection. Additionally, the Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer did not meet the criteria for SMC due to regular aid and attendance or housebound status.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence was against the claims for service connection and SMC based on the lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service and the absence of a causal relationship between the conditions and service.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease, prostate cancer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19162675
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 19162675.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer, related to in-service exposures at Camp Lejeune.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran is granted an effective date of April 25, 2014, for service connection for prostate cancer.
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