The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, specifically end stage cardiomyopathy and arteriosclerosis. The cause of death is considered to be due to or a result of these service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided support the conclusion that the Veteran's hypertension, which developed during active duty service and aggravated by his migraine medications, contributed substantially and materially to the development of his cardiovascular complications such as arteriosclerosis and cardiomyopathy. These conditions were considered in-service injuries or diseases that caused death.
- Claimed conditions
- End stage cardiomyopathy, Arteriosclerosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2015
- Citation
- 1545338
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 1545338.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for arteriosclerosis and granted earlier effective dates of December 27, 2010, for the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy in his right and left upper extremities but denied such an earlier date for the lower extremities.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's claims for an earlier effective date for death pension benefits and DIC benefits, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims. The Veteran died of end stage cardiomyopathy, which is not service-connected.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA opinion to determine if arteriosclerosis, which contributed to the Veteran's death, was caused or aggravated by his service-connected peripheral artery disease (PAD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's heart disabilities, including whether they are related to his service in South West Asia. Additional medical opinions are needed.
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