The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service at U-Tapao Royal Thai Airforce Base in Thailand is presumed. The decision also notes that the Veteran worked on or near the perimeter of the base for approximately six months.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran served at U-Tapao RTAFB and worked on or near its perimeter, placing him on or near the perimeters of the base where herbicide agents were used. This exposure is presumed to have caused his type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease.
- Claimed conditions
- type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 7, 2021
- Citation
- 21073031
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 21073031.
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.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a heart disability prior to his death is granted as he was entitled to accrued benefits due to the September 1994 claim, which included ischemic heart disease, a covered herbicide disease.
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