Question:
I have Abnormal IV diastolic function with impaired LV diastolic relaxation pattern. Does this fall under agent orange?
Jim's Reply:
Presumptive service connected benefits for those who served in validated regions where agent orange was used aren't required to prove cause and effect, that is presumptive for these troops.
The presumptive conditions list includes only a single heart related disabling condition and that's Ischemic Heart Disease or IHD. IHD is sometimes called coronary artery disease.
If your diastolic dysfunction can be traced to your service connected IHD then you may have a well grounded claim secondary to your rated IHD. If your diastolic dysfunction isn't caused or contributed to by a service connected IHD then you may not have a well grounded claim. For what it's worth, many who are diagnosed with diastolic dysfunction weren't aware they had the condition as it's frequently symptom free. In other words, often enough this isn't a disabling condition and is a byproduct of getting older.
Good luck.