Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted due to diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, which are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran had verified service in-country in Vietnam, so herbicide exposure was conceded. The Board finds the Appellant's lay statements reporting the Veteran's treating doctor's findings that diabetes mellitus and CAD prevented the Veteran from receiving curative treatment for AML are highly probative.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25047058
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 hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left foot bursitis and coronary artery disease, as well as special monthly compensation based on housebound status.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) effective June 1, 2021, and increased ratings for mid-sternum scar, left lower extremity (LLE) scar, and migraines to 10%, 20%, and 50% respectively, all effective October 26, 2020.
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