The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is related to in-service herbicide exposure, specifically his service aboard the USS Tulare in Da Nang Harbor during the Vietnam War. As a result, the Board granted service connection for the underlying causes of death (CAD and diabetes mellitus).
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran served within the territorial sea of Vietnam and was exposed to herbicide agents, which is presumed for all Veterans who had served on ships in the Republic of Vietnam's territorial seas. The Board then determined that his underlying causes of death (CAD and diabetes mellitus) are encompassed by 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e).
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, type 2
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20001124
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot bursitis and coronary artery disease, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound status.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) effective June 1, 2021, and increased ratings for mid-sternum scar, left lower extremity (LLE) scar, and migraines to 10%, 20%, and 50% respectively, all effective October 26, 2020.
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