The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by heart failure, which is a presumptively service-connected condition for former POWs. The claim is granted.
The deciding factor: Heart failure in the context of the veteran's status as a former prisoner of war (POW) is presumed to be related to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart Failure
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 29, 2009
- Citation
- 0916108
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 0916108.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 Veteran's death was caused by his conditions (Ventricular Fibrillation, Cardiac Arrest, and Heart Failure), which the Board finds may have been exacerbated or worsened due to VA treatment. The Board is remanding the case for a new medical opinion to determine if VA negligence contributed to the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal of a higher rating for PTSD has been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for heart disability due to a duty-to-assist error.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service connection claim for congestive heart failure is denied as the condition is not related to toxic exposures during active service or secondary to a service-connected disability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions or toxic exposures.,The Board found that the cause of death (pulmonary fibrosis, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation) is less likely than not related to active duty service.
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