The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be cardiac arrest, with probable pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction as underlying causes. The Board found that the service-connected bilateral extremity peripheral arterial disease contributed substantially and materially to his death.
The deciding factor: Dr. Barnett provided a medical opinion stating that the blockage in the Veteran's leg caused by his service-connected peripheral arterial disease led to a massive heart attack, which was the cause of his death.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity peripheral arterial disease, right lower extremity peripheral arterial disease, residuals, cold injury, of the left lower extremity with mild peripheral neuritis and onychomycosis, residuals, cold injury, of the right lower extremity with mild peripheral neuritis and onychomycosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 26, 2016
- Citation
- 1633804
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1633804.
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 Board has granted an earlier effective date of November 10, 2022 for a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity peripheral arterial disease. The Veteran's condition was objectively manifested by ankle/brachial index of 0.54-0.66 since that date.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease, Type II diabetes, and hypertension under the PACT Act. Peripheral arterial diseases were also granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of right lower extremity peripheral arterial disease to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether it is aggravated by hypertension.
- Whole decision: Granted
The veteran's claim for service connection of left lower extremity peripheral arterial disease with artery stenting and varicose veins, as secondary to service-connected hypertension, is granted.
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