The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is related to his active military service due to ischemic heart disease, which was presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure. The Board also found that the ischemic heart disease contributed to the cause of death.
The deciding factor: The Board concluded that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, contributed substantially or materially to his death as it hastened the progression of metastatic gastric cancer and aggravated other pre-existing conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- metastatic gastric cancer, hypertensive heart disease, ischemic heart disease (presumed due to herbicide exposure), osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees, right ankle disability associated with osteoarthritis of the right knee, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, encephalitis and transient ischemic attacks
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 27, 2014
- Citation
- 1447474
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 1447474.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and other conditions, rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 21, 2025.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertensive heart disease as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for service connection for hypertensive heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertensive heart disease, chest condition, left arm condition, right arm condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all granted.
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