The Board has determined that the Veteran's service aboard the USS White Plains in the territorial waters off of Vietnam, combined with credible observations by a fellow sailor, entitles the appellant to presumptive service connection for exposure to herbicide agents. As such, the cause of the Veteran’s death is now considered service-connected.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's service aboard the USS White Plains in close proximity to Vietnam and his credible observations by a fellow sailor established presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute myocardial infarction, Septic shock, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20001371
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 case to obtain new medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death, specifically addressing his service in the Panama Canal Zone and potential exposure to toxins.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case to determine whether the Veteran's service included travel to or near the DMZ or exposure to herbicide agents while in Korea.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection was denied for gastroesophageal reflux disease, diabetes mellitus, left subclavian artery thrombus status post thrombectomy, and lumbar spine disability. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and sinusitis were remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to or cause his death.
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