The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also granted as secondary to the service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnoses of ischemic heart disease (IHD), specifically coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus, type II are associated with herbicide exposure during service. The Board has found that the Veteran was presumptively exposed to herbicides due to his duty near the air base perimeter in Thailand.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease (IHD), specifically, coronary artery disease (CAD), Diabetes mellitus, type II, Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20071684
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R(1) rate due to his need for regular aid and attendance.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding no evidence that his death was related to any injury or disease in service, including exposure to herbicide agents.
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