The Veteran's cause of death, acute myocardial infarction with underlying atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service. As such, the Board finds that service connection for the cause of death is warranted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's ischemic heart disease (including myocardial infarction and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease) is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- acute myocardial infarction, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 3, 2013
- Citation
- 1331909
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 1331909.
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 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's cause of death, acute coronary insufficiency due to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, is considered presumptively related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. As the Veteran served in Vietnam and his condition is presumed for herbicide-exposed veterans, service connection for the cause of death is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death, specifically addressing whether in-service toxic exposures led to hypertension and ultimately caused his death.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as there was no evidence linking his conditions to his active-duty service.
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.