The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, CAD and old myocardial infarction are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The Board grants service connection for these conditions. Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's CAD and old myocardial infarction due to herbicide exposure. However, service connection for gastrointestinal disability, skin cancer, and respiratory disability remains pending as further medical examination and opinion are needed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran served in Vietnam and was exposed to herbicides during service, which is presumed. The Board finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, CAD and old myocardial infarction are related to this exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), old myocardial infarction, gastrointestinal disability, skin cancer, respiratory disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20060701
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20060701.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
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