The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The VA physician's opinion indicated that the chest pain in service was musculoskeletal rather than cardiac, and thus not related to the later diagnosed CAD which led to the Veteran's death.
- Claimed conditions
- CAD (Coronary Artery Disease), Hyperlipidemia, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 26, 2010
- Citation
- 1007299
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1007299.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 CAD warrants a 60 percent rating, but the Board has determined that an earlier effective date is warranted due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding direct service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 100 percent for CAD was granted effective November 28, 2023. The effective date is based on the date of a VA examination showing the increase in disability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or housebound status, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's cause of death is being remanded due to a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal. The Board must obtain additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bladder cancer, which was service-connected as a result of contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune, contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death.
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