The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicide agents (for accrued purposes only). The decision found that arteriosclerotic heart disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred, and was not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Diabetes mellitus was not listed as a contributing factor in the veteran's death.
The deciding factor: The Board found that arteriosclerotic heart disease did not singly or with some other condition cause or contribute substantially or materially to cause death, and diabetes mellitus was not related to exposure to herbicide agents during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Arteriosclerotic heart disease, Labile hypertension, Diabetes mellitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 18, 2005
- Citation
- 0501373
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 0501373.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding no evidence that his death was related to any injury or disease in service, including exposure to herbicide agents.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating higher than 60 percent for the Veteran's heart disabilities and granted service connection for major vascular neurocognitive disorder, but denied special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l).
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