The Board granted service connection for multiple heart disabilities, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypothyroidism, bladder cancer, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, chest scar, and right leg scars based on presumed exposure to herbicides in Korea.
The deciding factor: The Board found credible evidence that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and granted service connection for the claimed disabilities under the presumption of herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease, Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, Coronary artery disease s/p coronary artery bypass graft surgery, Ischemic cardiomyopathy with heart failure, Ventricular tachycardia, Diabetes mellitus, type II, Hypothyroidism, Bladder cancer, Hypertension, Diabetic nephropathy (claimed as kidney disease), Peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity, Bilateral non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, Erectile dysfunction, Chest scar, Right leg scars
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2024
- Citation
- A24068993
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 remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 29, 2019 for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder but denied earlier effective dates and increased ratings for other conditions.
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