The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by anoxic encephalopathy due to a food bolus obstruction, which was materially contributed to by his service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease and an eating disorder incurred during his time as a prisoner of war. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease combined with his service-connected duodenal ulcer, which was exacerbated by his PTSD-related eating disorder, to contribute substantially to his choking and subsequent death.
- Claimed conditions
- Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease, Atrial Fibrillation, Mild Cardiomegaly, Duodenal Ulcer
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- April 11, 2001
- Citation
- 0110551
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 0110551.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities effective July 29, 2019, but not earlier.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension as not being related to the Veteran's active duty or secondary to his service-connected GAD. However, congestive heart failure was granted due to a secondary relationship with his service-connected GAD.
- Denied
The Board denied entitlement to an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder, duodenal ulcer, and irritable bowel syndrome. The remaining claims regarding a neurological disorder of the left and right elbows were remanded.
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