The Board denied the claim that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused his death, finding no evidence to support this assertion.
The deciding factor: A VA physician's opinion specifically discounted the notion that any of the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his fatal cardiogenic shock and heart attack.
- Claimed conditions
- cardiogenic shock, acute anterior myocardial infarction, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, myeloma of the T-8 vertebral disc space
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 0%
- Decision date
- November 13, 2009
- Citation
- 0943375
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 0943375.
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's cause of death, which included atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure during service at Fort McClellan. The Board granted the claim for service connection for the cause of death.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease/aortic stenosis status post aortic valve replacement was improper, and thus restored the original grant of service connection.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking his military service to any of the conditions listed on his death certificate.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the AOJ erred in not obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents caused his cardiogenic shock, valvular heart disease, and/or pulmonary hypertension. The case is being remanded for this purpose.
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