The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Grave's disease, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence received since the January 2002 rating decision.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran’s thyroid disorder (Grave's disease) is at least as likely as not related to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam, based on a study linking Agent Orange exposure to an increased risk of Grave's disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Grave's disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19186223
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.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection and rating issues related to various conditions, including obesity, chronic renal dysfunction/kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, Grave's disease, chronic liver disease, TMJ disorder, sleep apnea, back pain, dermatographic urticaria residuals from anthrax vaccine, and hemorrhoids.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran was not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected disabilities prior to July 11, 2019.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for Grave's disease and denied revisions to prior rating decisions on the basis of clear and unmistakable error, as well as denying increased ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions.
- Granted
Service connection for coronary artery disease is granted. Initial ratings for diabetes mellitus, left upper and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are denied. An initial 20% disability rating for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is granted. Service connection for Grave's disease and lumbar spine disability is remanded.
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