The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be due to in-service herbicide exposure, and service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was stationed near the Korean DMZ during his service, which places him within the presumptive area for Agent Orange exposure. The Board found that the Veteran's reports of trips to the DMZ are credible and supported by lay statements from fellow servicemembers and a relative who witnessed these trips.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21068797
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 21068797.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted a 10 percent disability rating for ischemic heart disease associated with herbicide exposure from October 21, 2003, to January 27, 2014.
- Granted
The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) effective June 8, 2022. The decision is based on the Veteran's functional impairment and consistent with the criteria for a 60 percent rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence showing worsening symptoms, and for a TDIU claim. The Veteran is required to submit lay statements from himself and others regarding his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and COPD have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or asbestos. The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not be presumed exposed to herbicides. Additionally, his symptoms were not shown to be related to service.
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