The Veteran's death was caused by multiple cerebrovascular accidents, which were significantly contributed to by coronary artery disease (CAD), presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The medical opinion supports the conclusion that CAD caused or contributed substantially to the cause of death.
The deciding factor: Coronary artery disease was presumptively incurred in service due to herbicide exposure and led to multiple cerebrovascular accidents which significantly contributed to the Veteran's death.
- Claimed conditions
- Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 16, 2016
- Citation
- 1619860
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 1619860.
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 TDIU and SMC for housebound status are granted based on service-connected PTSD from October 12, 2023, and CAD from October 1, 2022. The appeals were granted due to the severity of these conditions preventing the Veteran from securing or following substantially gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its current severity and for the consideration of any outstanding private medical records.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU rating based on depressive disorder is granted from October 17, 2018 to March 26, 2019. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted prior to March 26, 2019.
- Granted
The rating for the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) was restored to 100 percent effective December 1, 2025.,The rating for the Veteran's service-connected specified stressor related disorder (psychiatric disability) was restored to 70 percent effective December 1, 2025.
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