The veteran's nicotine dependence acquired during service contributed to his atherosclerosis, which was the cause of his death. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.
The deciding factor: Nicotine dependence developed in service substantially or materially contributed to the development of atherosclerosis, the immediate cause of death.
- Claimed conditions
- Atherosclerosis, Insulin-dependent diabetes
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2000
- Citation
- 0004668
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0004668.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for peripheral artery disease and atherosclerosis, bilateral above-the-knee amputations, and right arm disability status-post two strokes. The claim of eligibility for VA outpatient dental treatment was dismissed due to the absence of an initial determination by VHA.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for liver disability, atherosclerosis, TBI, and hyperlipidemia as there was no evidence of current disabilities.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for atherosclerosis and bradycardia, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension, but denied service connection for hypertension on a basis other than pursuant to the PACT Act.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's earlier effective date for service connection of ischemic heart disease, including CABG and unstable angina with percutaneous coronary intervention with stent, is granted as September 7, 2010.
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