The veteran's cause of death is listed as cardiac arrest due to or as a consequence of ischemic cardiomyopathy and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The appellant claims that the veteran's service-connected PTSD disability was a contributory cause of his death. The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining medical records from private physicians and hospitals, and requesting a VA medical opinion on whether the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to or aggravated his cardiovascular disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is insufficient evidence in the record to determine if the veteran's service-connected PTSD disability was a contributory cause of his death. The appellant has claimed that her husband's PTSD disability may have contributed to his heart disease, but this claim requires further investigation and medical opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- ischemic cardiomyopathy, arteriosclerotic heart disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 12, 2005
- Citation
- 0521906
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 0521906.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, as he does not have physical loss of use of hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, severe burn injury, ALS, or ankylosis of knees or hips.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease is rated at 60% and has rendered him unemployable from February 17, 2023 to July 24, 2023. The Board also granted a special monthly compensation based on the housebound criteria.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and requests medical opinions on the etiology of his coronary artery disease, GERD with dyspepsia, and upper respiratory infection.
- Granted
The Veteran's eczema is rated at a 60 percent rating from March 31, 2014.,A 60 percent rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease has been granted. The effective date of the award is August 10, 2022.,TDIU benefits are granted starting from August 10, 2022.,Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits have an effective date of August 10, 2022.
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