The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, peripheral vascular disease of the left and right lower extremities, and ischemic heart disease due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during military service. The evidence did not reach equipoise on any issue.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions found that there was no causal relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his reported exposures to Agent Orange.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, peripheral vascular disease of the left and right lower extremities, ischemic heart disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20001604
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, as the previous opinions were found inadequate.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for coronary atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and penile cancer as there was no evidence of a medical nexus between the Veteran's conditions and his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, specifically to verify the Veteran's assertion of herbicide exposure while working on C-123 aircraft at Clark Air Base from May 1965 to November 1966.
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