The Veteran's cause of death is service-connected due to the prescribed medications for his service-connected disabilities causing multiple drug toxicity.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence is in equipoise as to whether the prescribed medications caused the Veteran's death, and thus the criteria for service connection are met.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder with post-traumatic stress disorder, herniated nucleus pulposus, status post discectomy with fusion of C5-6 and C4-5 with pain in the shoulders, arms, and hands, impingement, status post right rotator cuff repair, non-dominant, chronic low back strain, right ankle sprain, scar, status post cervical fusion c5-6 and C4-5, scar, behind left ear, status post parotidectomy, scar, right shoulder, status post arthroscopic surgery, chronic parotitis, right parotid gland, benign lipoma of the brain, erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 11, 2017
- Citation
- 1744999
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 1744999.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction was denied as the evidence did not show that he had been diagnosed and manifested to at least a 10 percent disability rating on or prior to May 8, 2001.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran meets the basic medical eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his need for personal care services based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. However, further clinical evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the program is in the Veteran's best interest.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected DM II. The Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during active service is presumed.
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