The Veteran's death was caused by left ventricular failure, respiratory failure, metastatic disease, and liver cancer. The VA medical expert concluded that the cause of death is more likely due to advanced liver cancer rather than ischemic heart disease (IHD). As a result, service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death cannot be established.
The deciding factor: The VA medical expert found it less than 50% likely that IHD directly contributed to the left ventricular failure and opined that the liver cancer was more likely the cause of the Veteran's death.
- Claimed conditions
- left ventricular failure, respiratory failure, metastatic disease, liver cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19114381
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,911 · Granted: 10% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19114381.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of liver cancer has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for liver cancer and an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for intestinal cancer, liver cancer, and a liver biopsy surgical scar as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected intestinal cancer.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for colon cancer and liver cancer is granted due to the relationship between his in-service toxic exposures, including burn pits. His liver cancer was found to be related to his now service-connected colon cancer.
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