The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking a service-connected disability to his death. The decision also noted that heart disease in former POWs is presumed under certain conditions but did not find it applicable in this case.
The deciding factor: There was insufficient evidence to support presumptive service connection for heart disease due to the veteran's POW status.
- Claimed conditions
- Cardio-respiratory arrest
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 26, 2001
- Citation
- 0102289
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 0102289.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and potential service connection for a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran died from cardio-respiratory arrest and sepsis, with underlying conditions including pneumonia and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's cause of death was listed as cardio-respiratory arrest due to senescence. The VA examiner determined that the service-connected right shoulder disability did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents during military service in Vietnam. The claim is granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the immediate and contributory causes of the veteran's death were not service-connected conditions, and thus denied claims for service connection for the cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.
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