The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, cataracts, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities due to a lack of evidence establishing herbicide exposure during service.
The deciding factor: The persuasive weight of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents including Agent Orange while on active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease, Diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), Cataracts, Peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, Peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 28, 2024
- Citation
- 24032270
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R(1) rate due to his need for regular aid and attendance.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of ischemic heart disease and diabetes, and these claims are dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for an appropriate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's DMII, as the AOJ failed to properly notify the Veteran of a scheduled examination.
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