The Board has granted service connection for hypertensive vascular disease and loss of erectile power as due to herbicide agent exposure, but denied service connection for autonomic neuropathy.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted based on the presumption that hypertension can be associated with herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his hypertension. Service connection for autonomic neuropathy was denied due to lack of a diagnosis.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension), loss of erectile power (erectile dysfunction), autonomic neuropathy (obturator nerve, neuralgia)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2024
- Citation
- 24000240
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 868 · Granted: 42% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24000240.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for hypersensitivity pneumonitis and denied increased ratings for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertensive vascular disease, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. However, the Board granted an increased rating of 40 percent for both left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes mellitus and granted total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities effective March 15, 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board has denied service connection for arteriosclerosis obliterans, low circulation of lower extremities and remanded the claims for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied service connection for hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension) due to lack of a current diagnosis. The case was remanded for further examination regarding the Veteran's hypothyroidism.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left knee and foot disabilities, right knee disability, arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, chronic liver disease, pancreatitis, atherosclerotic renal disease (chronic kidney disease), diabetes mellitus type II, psychiatric disorders, headaches, and sleep apnea. The decision was based on the absence of evidence linking these conditions to service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.