The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease are granted. The claim for colon cancer is remanded as it may be related to herbicide agent exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand and has current diagnoses of diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease (including coronary artery disease), and atherosclerosis. The claim for colon cancer is remanded as it may be related to herbicide agent exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease (including coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis), colon cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19165063
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 19165063.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of colon cancer, claimed as due to exposure to asbestos, for an addendum opinion considering additional evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for cervical spine condition, diabetes mellitus, heart condition, lumbar spine condition, and urinary frequency and voiding condition as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
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