The Veteran's ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) and Parkinson’s disease are granted as due to herbicide agent exposure for accrued benefits purposes.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded, as the evidence is unclear if he had diabetes mellitus, type II prior to death. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine this.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is also remanded and a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if it was related to his in-service herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had service on land in Vietnam and visited the country in 1968. His personnel records confirm he flew combat missions over the Gulf of Tonkin, which supports a finding that he set foot in Vietnam.,VA treatment records show the Veteran had hypertension prior to his death. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has moved hypertension from the 'limited or suggestive' to 'sufficient' category for association with herbicides. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine if this condition was related to his in-service exposure.,The Veteran's June 2012 VA Form 21-526 indicates he had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, type II in 2002 by a private doctor. However, VA treatment records do not confirm an actual diagnosis of diabetes and only mention impaired fasting glucose prior to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease), Parkinson’s disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19169731
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 19169731.
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
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Denied
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