Citation Nr: 18159056
Decision Date: 12/18/18	Archive Date: 12/18/18

DOCKET NO. 17-07 236
DATE:	December 18, 2018
ORDER
Entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted.
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The Veteran served in the U.S. Air Force at the Royal Thai Air Base in Takhli, Thailand, during the Vietnam Era, in August 1966, as an Administrative Specialist and traveled the perimeter.
2. The Veteran has a diagnosis of ischemic heart disease.
CONCLUSION OF LAW
The criteria for service connection for ischemic heart disease are met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1101, 1110, 1112, 1113, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.303, 3.307, 3.309.
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Air Force from 1963 to August 1967.

Service Connection
Certain diseases, to include ischemic heart disease, may be service-connected if the Veteran was exposed to an herbicide agent during active service even though there is no record of such disease during service, provided that the requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6) are satisfied. 38 C.F.R. § 3.309 (e).
Specifically, VA’s Compensation & Pension Service (C&P) has issued information concerning the use of herbicides in Thailand during the Vietnam War. See VA Adjudication Manual, M21-1MR, Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section C (M21-1MR). In a May 2010 bulletin, C&P indicated that there was significant use of herbicides on the fenced-in perimeters of military bases in Thailand intended to eliminate vegetation and ground cover for base security purposes. As such, C&P stated that special consideration of herbicide exposure on a facts-found or direct basis should be extended to those veterans whose duties placed them on or near the perimeters of Thailand military bases. Significantly, C&P stated, “[t]his allows for presumptive service connection of the diseases associated with herbicide exposure.” 
The majority of troops in Thailand during the Vietnam Era were stationed at the Royal Thai Air Force Bases of U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang. If a veteran served on one of these air bases as a security policeman, security patrol dog handler, member of a security police squadron, or otherwise served near the air base perimeter, as shown by MOS (military occupational specialty), performance evaluations, or other credible evidence, then herbicide exposure should be acknowledged on a facts-found or direct basis. This applies only during the Vietnam Era from February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975. See M21-1MR, Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section C.10(q).
Entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease
The Veteran contends in his February 2015 correspondence to the Board that his duties as an Administrative Specialist placed him near or at the perimeter of the Takhli Royal Thailand Air Base during his time stationed there in August 1966. The Veteran contends he would travel to the perimeter.
The Veteran’s April 2017 VA treatment record provides evidence that the Veteran is diagnosed with ischemic heart disease.
The Board acknowledges that the Veteran did not serve in a position which VA has conceded as being exposed to herbicides on the base; however, the Board finds that the Veteran’s February 2015 statement that he would travel to the perimeter to observe provides credible evidence of his being near the perimeter.
Therefore, the Board finds that based on the Veteran’s competent and credible lay statement regarding his travel around the perimeter of the Takhli Royal Thailand Air Base he meets the criteria for presumption of exposure to an herbicide agent during active military service in Thailand. M21-1MR, Part IV.ii.2.C.10.q. Given that diabetes is a disease that is presumed related to herbicide exposure under 38 C.F.R. § 3.307 and 3.309(e), service connection is warranted on this basis. 38 U.S.C. § 5107 (b); Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49 (1990).

 
GAYLE STROMMEN
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	J. Acosta, Counsel