The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The Board also finds that the Veteran is entitled to presumptive service connection for these conditions. Service connection for retinopathy and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records confirm his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand, which allows for the presumption of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease. The Board also finds that the Veteran's retinopathy and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, retinopathy, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 18, 2022
- Citation
- 22041019
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 22041019.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for sleep apnea and an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II.
- 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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