The Board has determined that the Veteran's fatal myocardial infarction was caused by his service-connected COPD, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's fatal myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease was related to his service-connected COPD. The benefit of doubt rule has been applied in favor of the appellant.
- Claimed conditions
- Myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease, Asbestosis interstitial fibrosis, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with emphysema
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 17, 2012
- Citation
- 1217695
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 1217695.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease, which is presumed related to herbicide exposure. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and denied DIC benefits.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as there was no credible evidence that the Veteran was exposed to an herbicide agent while in active service.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death. Additionally, the requirements for entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 have not been met.
- Denied
The veteran's lung disability was not shown during service or until years thereafter, and is not etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for COPD with emphysema is denied.
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