Filed a claim at the Houston Regional Office in August 2011 for IHD and Barretts Esophagus. I was rejected on the Barretts after about 7 or 8 months. They "continued" to evaluate the IHD and the first of this month I received their decision: The evidence does not show an event, disease or injury in service. The evidence does not show that your disease developed to a compensable degree within the specified time period after release from service qualify for presumption of service connection. Explanation states NOTE: Service connection for this disabling condition is denied since we were unable to verify your contention of herbicide exposure. There is no evidence of a heart condition in service. Also, there is no evidence a heart condition was diagnosed and manifested to a compensable degree within one year following service.

I spoke with the service officer and even read all sorts of literature before I submitted a claim. Obviously "presumptive" does not mean the same to the VA as to many of us. I was also warned that you have to be prepared to outlive the appeals process.

I am going to get as much information as I can and file my first appeal. Anyone filed an appeal and gotten a response?