The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes, a psychiatric disorder (vascular dementia), and neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides in Thailand.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to showing that the Veteran's conditions are associated with his service, particularly given his proximity to the perimeter where he was exposed to herbicides.
- Claimed conditions
- ischemic heart disease (IHD), diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), psychiatric disorder, to include vascular dementia, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19170159
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 19170159.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy. The Veteran's cause of death due to these conditions is also recognized.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure have been granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The claim for glaucoma has been denied as not related to service-connected conditions or in-service herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection for heart failure is granted secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease.
- Granted
The Veteran's diabetes is granted as service-connected due to in-service herbicide agent exposure. The Board finds the pre-decisional record inadequate for evaluating certain Parkinson's disease residuals and remands for further examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain relevant exposure information. The AOJ is instructed to conduct additional development as outlined in the decision.
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