The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma is considered a contributory cause of his death due to aspiration pneumonia and decompensated chronic liver disease. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise, granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.
The deciding factor: Medical opinions place the probative value of the evidence supporting the appellant's claim at least in equipoise with the opinions against the claim, finding bronchial asthma to be a contributory cause of death due to aspiration pneumonia and decompensated chronic liver disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Bronchial asthma, Decompensated chronic liver disease, Metabolic encephalopathy, Myocardial infarction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- June 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19144928
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,699 · Granted: 17% (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 19144928.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his myocardial infarction and COPD to his military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, status post stent placement, as well as obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bronchial asthma has been rated at 30% since January 7, 2004. The Board has now granted a 60% rating effective from November 14, 2024, based on the evidence showing FEV-1/FVC of 40 to 55 percent during the appeal period.
- Denied
The Veteran's bronchial asthma is rated at 60 percent since March 31, 1997. The Board found the current rating of 60 percent to be correct based on post-bronchodilator FEV-1 and FVC measurements.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.