The appeal for service connection for a low back disability is dismissed.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension are granted due to exposure to herbicide agents, with the PACT Act providing presumptive service connection for hypertension. Service connection for PTSD is also granted based on in-service combat experience.,Remanded issues: service connection for fragment wounds to the left arm, right arm, and head.
The deciding factor: The appellant's character of discharge was not a bar to VA benefits due to his insanity at the time of misconduct. The appellant had two periods of AWOL exceeding 180 continuous days but this did not constitute a bar to VA benefits as he was found insane.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension is granted based on exposure to herbicide agents, with the PACT Act providing presumptive service connection for hypertension. Service connection for PTSD is granted due to in-service combat experience.,The appellant's claims for service connection for fragment wounds to the left arm, right arm, and head are remanded as no VA examination has been conducted to assess their current functional status.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disability, coronary artery disease, hypertension, PTSD
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 18, 2023
- Citation
- 23066629
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 23066629.
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 an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
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