The Board granted service connection for hypertension and valvular heart disease, but denied an increased rating for PTSD and granted an earlier effective date of February 25, 2013, for the grant of PTSD.

The deciding factor: The evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension is etiologically related to his active military service. Valvular heart disease was diagnosed during the presumptive period and the evidence supports a direct link to herbicide exposure.

Claimed conditions

hypertension, valvular heart disease with peripheral vascular disease

How they argued it

Presumptive (no nexus needed)

Exposure basis

Agent Orange / herbicides

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

March 4, 2025

Citation

A25019632

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine