Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection for hypertension is denied as there was no effective date earlier than August 10, 2022.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records established herbicide agent exposure during his service at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB). However, the record did not contain competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between hypertension and service prior to the enactment of the PACT Act on August 10, 2022.
- Claimed conditions
- coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2026
- Citation
- A26011678
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26011678.
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
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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