The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, including acute myocardial infarction and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicides. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.
The deciding factor: The immediate cause of the Veteran's death was acute myocardial infarction due to or as a consequence of thrombotic occlusion of the left coronary artery due to or as a consequence of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The Board finds that this condition, including hypertension which is included in VA's definition of ischemic heart disease, is presumed to be a result of exposure to herbicides.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute myocardial infarction, Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 30, 2010
- Citation
- 1048466
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 1048466.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development regarding toxic exposures and a VA examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's heart conditions and PTSD were rated at their highest levels (100% for heart conditions, 70% for PTSD) effective December 11, 2019. Additionally, the Veteran was granted benefits related to his disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran died due to an acute myocardial infarction. The Board has identified errors in the toxic exposure documentation and requests a remand for further investigation and medical opinion regarding the cause of death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran's death was caused by an intraabdominal hemorrhage, acute myocardial infarction, and acute renal failure. The appeal is remanded to obtain a medical opinion on whether these conditions are related to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
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