The Veteran's cause of death, arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease, is presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection due to this presumption.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service and has a presumptively linked disability (coronary artery disease) which contributed to his death.
- Claimed conditions
- arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 28, 2011
- Citation
- 1116496
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 1116496.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during his active service and no link between his condition and service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a lack of evidence linking his service-connected disabilities to his fatal conditions. The Board found that neither arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease, hypertensive heart disease nor end stage renal disease were caused by or aggravated by any of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease resulted in a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs and resulted in dyspnea, fatigue, and angina. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease, which is service-connected. The appellant is recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse and thus eligible for DIC benefits.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.