The Board found that none of the diseases or conditions incurred in service were the primary cause of death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The VA physician concluded that while the veteran had a history of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, there was no evidence suggesting that his cardiac condition contributed significantly to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- Ischemic heart disease, Malaria, Pneumonia, Respiratory failure, Cerebrovascular accident
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 18, 2000
- Citation
- 0032932
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 0032932.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R(1) rate due to his need for regular aid and attendance.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of ischemic heart disease and diabetes, and these claims are dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the case to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death, specifically addressing toxic exposures during service and submitted medical literature.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected migraines, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for malaria due to missing evidence and incomplete medical opinions.
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