Service connection for DM and IHD is granted based on the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022. Service connection for CKD, peripheral neuropathies of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are also granted as secondary to service-connected DM.,The nephrolithiasis claim remains pending and will be remanded for a VA examination.
The deciding factor: Service connection is granted based on the PACT Act, which provides presumptive service connection for certain conditions related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claimed in-service exposures are not verified, but he has been granted service connection for DM and IHD under this presumption.,The nephrolithiasis claim remains pending as further examination is required.
- Claimed conditions
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type II (DM), Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Lower Extremity (LLE), Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Lower Extremity (RLE), Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Upper Extremity (LUE), Peripheral Neuropathy of the Right Upper Extremity (RUE)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 29, 2023
- Citation
- 23047642
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 23047642.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a heart disability and hypertension due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain addendum medical opinions regarding toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).
- Denied
The Veteran's CKD did not result in a GFR score of 59 mL/min/1.73 m2 or lower for at least three consecutive months during any 12-month period, nor did it require regular routine dialysis or make him eligible for a kidney transplant. Therefore, the claim for an initial compensable rating for CKD is denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted an initial 80 percent evaluation for the Veteran's Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), stage IV, effective November 18, 2025.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hypertension requires continuous medication for control but has not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, nor does he have a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more. As such, the initial compensable rating for hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's CKD has an unclear etiology though suspect HTN and was diagnosed prior to the decision on appeal. The Court noted that secondary service connection should be developed and adjudicated.
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