The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The appeal regarding increased ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as additional ratings for knee extension disabilities, are all granted.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established through the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents due to service at Udorn RTAFB during Vietnam War. Increased ratings were granted based on current medical evidence showing no significant impairment in range of motion or other symptoms that would warrant higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- ischemic heart disease, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 10, 2021
- Citation
- 21068369
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 21068369.
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 claim for service connection for a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has expanded the scope of the claim for major depression to encompass any mental health disability raised by the record and has remanded six issues for additional development.
- Granted
The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as presumptively related to his service in the Gulf War, specifically aboard the USS Chanticleer and USS Mataco.
- 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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