The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus type II, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as post-traumatic stress disorder), sleep apnea, and an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran served in the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) in 1969 and was exposed to herbicides. The Board finds that the Veteran's diagnosed conditions are presumptively related to herbicide exposure during active-duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- Coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction (heart), Diabetes mellitus type II, Right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as post-traumatic stress disorder), Sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 26, 2025
- Citation
- A25055451
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 granted service connection for chronic headaches, CFS, dermatosis, bilateral RLS, a lumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea but denied a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, residuals of a right foot injury, sinusitis, shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- 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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