The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy are granted. The VA is directed to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine if his hypertension, PTSD, sleep apnea, loss of teeth, pulmonary edema, and erectile dysfunction are related to his service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service in Thailand and grants service connection for these conditions based on this exposure. The VA is directed to provide examinations to determine if the Veteran's other conditions are also related to his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19182580
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.
- 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.
- 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 claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.